A Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Apo, Abuja on Monday, dismissed an application filed by a former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq seeking to set aside a warrant of arrest earlier issued against her.

It was gathered that Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie held that the former minister failed to appear before the court without a valid reason.

The judge said the law allows the court to issue a bench warrant if a defendant intentionally skips criminal proceedings.

Umar-Farouq is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside Bashir Alkali and Sani Mohammed.

They are facing charges bordering on criminal conspiracy, abuse of office and alleged diversion of public funds in the tone of $1.3 million and ₦746.7 million.

EFCC spokesman, Dele Oyewale, said in a statement on Monday that the defendants are to be arraigned before the court.

In his ruling, Justice Onwuegbuzie ruled that the reasons Umar-Farouq gave for her absence were not enough.

The judge said, “The defendant is well aware that this is a criminal matter and the defendant has willfully failed to appear in court without a valid reason and the law empowers the court when it has been ascertained that the defendant is absent from court without a valid reason to issue a bench warrant of arrest.

“There’s nothing in the exhibit that says why the defendant, who has only arthritis and heart disease, cannot appear before the court. Are there no medical facilities in Nigeria? I am satisfied that the 1st defendant is trying to hide behind her fingers by raising bogus excuses.

It is necessary to remind the applicant that this is a criminal matter and not a civil one and there is a way of going about its proceedings. In my opinion, there is no merit in this application from all legal considerations. I do hold so.

Reacting to the ruling, EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), commended the court and urged the court to order the enforcement of an earlier undertaking allegedly given by Umar-Farouq’s lead counsel, A.A. Ibrahim (SAN), to produce his client.

Jacobs argued that the medical report submitted by the defence only asked for six to eight weeks for treatment and that the eight-week period expired on June 9.

“My lordship, for a senior counsel to give an undertaking which is reflected in your lordship’s ruling, we crave your lordship to give effect to that undertaking by A.A. Ibrahim, SAN, to produce the defendant,” he said.

“If you look at the attached so-called medical report, it is only asking for the period of six and eight weeks within which the defendant will be arrested and that the eight weeks had been expired on June 9, 2026.

I beg your lordship that the court will not take the undertaking for granted. We have decided to give effect to the arrest of the first defendant by us. We also ask the counsel to the first defendant to co-operate and produce his client on the next adjournment so that we do not resort to coercive power.”

Lead Counsel Defence to be Heard by Court
In his reaction, Ibrahim’s counsel, A.M. Lawal, urged the court to permit the lead counsel to personally address the issue of the alleged undertaking.

Justice Onwuegbuzie granted the request stating that Ibrahim should be allowed to come before the court and answer the issue.

The application followed a bench warrant issued against Umar-Farouq on April 16 for her failure to appear for a scheduled arraignment with her co-defendants.

Following her absence, the EFCC declared the former minister wanted for the alleged offences.

Her lawyers told earlier proceedings she was in Egypt receiving medical treatment and medically unfit to attend the trial.

They later sought to have the arrest warrant dismissed, claiming health problems caused her to miss the hearing.

The EFCC opposed the application, insisting that the former minister must first submit to the court’s jurisdiction before seeking any relief.

The prosecution also asked the court to reject the medical reports submitted by the defence and to put an end to the further delay in the criminal proceedings.

The judge adjourned the case to July 2 for the defendants to be arraigned.

Umar-Farouq, who was the first Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari and her co-defendants are facing trial on 21 counts bordering on alleged breach of trust, abuse of office, fraudulent award of contract and conversion of public funds valued at $1.3 million and N746,574,303.

The EFCC said the $1.3m was an excess fund paid by the ministry under the National Social Safety Net Coordinating Office for the validation of the Rapid Response Register beneficiaries.

The commission said the money was to be refunded by the contractor, Social Development by Visual ICT Limited, to the ministry.

But it alleged that rather than refund the money, Umar-Farouq and Alkali, then the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, diverted it to their “personal benefit”.

The EFCC said the offences were committed between May 8, 2021 and September 22, 2022 when Umar-Farouq was a minister.

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Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna State, has been granted bail for 100 million naira with one surety in the same amount by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

According to reports, the potential surety must dwell in either the Maitama or Asokoro areas of Abuja and present the original Certificate of Occupancy of a landed property at the court registry, according to Justice Abdulmalik’s judgment on Monday.

The court further ruled that the surety must be a federal civil servant with a minimum Grade Level of 17 and must present proof of salary payments for a minimum of three months.

A letter from the surety’s bank manager within the court’s jurisdiction will verify these documents.

In addition, the court mandated that the surety sign an affidavit of means, sign a bail bond, and provide the court registry with a recent passport photo.

El-Rufai must deposit all valid foreign passports with the court as part of the bail requirements. He must also produce a tax clearance certificate covering the previous six months and a verification letter from the surety’s immediate department.

In addition, until the case is decided, Justice Abdulmalik mandated that the defendant appear at the Department of State Services headquarters by 10 a.m. on the final Friday of every month to sign the attendance register.

The judge issued a warning that bail would be automatically revoked for noncompliance.

The defendant was also ordered by the court to provide a letter of attestation from the Kaduna Traditional Council Chairman.

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Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Lagos Zonal Directorate 1, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, has arraigned controversial social media influencer and self-styled relationship therapist, Okoro Blessing Nkiruka, popularly known as Blessing CEO.

It was reported that in a statement released via the EFCC social media page, it was disclosed that Blessing was arraigned on Friday, May 15, 2026, before Justice D.I. Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, over an alleged N36 million fraud.

Blessing was charged on a two-count charge of obtaining money by false pretence and stealing to the tune of ₦36,000,000.00 (Thirty-six Million Naira).

At the beginning of proceedings, defence counsel, P.I. Nwafor, told the court that the defendant had returned part of the money to the petitioner.

“We have an application to submit,” he said. The defendant approached the nominal complainant and refunded the sum of N24 million out of the N36 million.

“We are requesting a short adjournment to pay the balance. The nominal complainant said he will prevail on the EFCC to drop the case if the balance is paid.

The prosecution counsel, S.I. Suleiman, in his response, said that the prosecution was not aware of any discussion between the defendant and the nominal complainant.

“The complainant here is the Federal Government of Nigeria and we are here for arraignment. “We urge the defendant to take her plea, that is the business of the day.”

Justice Dipeolu, in his ruling, said “the defence and the nominal complainant can have discussions even during the pendency of the charge. It does not interfere with the proceedings before the court. The defendant will plead.”

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A Kwara State High Court in Ilorin on Wednesday sentenced the General Overseer of Mission House of Divine Land of Joy and Prayer Ministry, Prophet Ajiboye Abayomi Olayinka, to life imprisonment for sexually abusing three underage members of his congregation.

It was reports that Olayinka was found guilty of three counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with minors aged 13.

The offences were said to have been committed inside the church’s mission house in the Agah area of Ganmo where he was a spiritual leader.

The cleric was also sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment for procuring illegal abortions for some of the victims and threatening them against reporting the abuse.

Justice Hammed Aliyu Gegele in his judgment said that the convict abused his position as a clergyman and subjected the victims to physical and psychological abuse.

The judge called him “a paedophile and philanderer whose conduct should be deprecated by all and sundry in society.”

Olayinka was arraigned on eight-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy, unlawful sexual intercourse with minors, illegal abortion and unlawful possession of firearms.

The charges were filed under the relevant provisions of the Penal Code, Robbery and Firearms Act and Kwara State Child Rights Law, 2006.

During the trial the prosecution called 12 witnesses and tendered exhibits before court. Chief State Counsel, Issa Zakari, led the prosecution team.

Guns Forfeited by Court Order
Justice Gegele ruled that the prosecution had proven the charges against the cleric of illegal sexual intercourse with minors, rape and illegal abortion.

The court however discharged him on the charge of bigamy as the prosecution failed to prove the allegation.

The judge ordered the forfeiture of a pump-action gun found on the convict to the Federal Government.

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A Kano State High Court has sentenced 21-year-old Umar Idris to death by hanging for killing Sabiu Umar, the owner of a shop.

Idris, who lived in the Farawa Quarters of Kumbotso Local Government Area, was found guilty of culpable homicide after a trial in which the prosecution proved that he stabbed the 28-year-old victim to death.

The prosecutor, Lamido Abba-Sorondinki, told the court that the event happened on September 2, 2021, in the Tsamiya Mariri Quarters of Kano. He said that Idris broke into the victim’s shop at around 10:30 p.m., where Sabiu worked and lived, and stole wedding clothes that were meant for his bride.

The prosecution says that the dead person raised the alarm after finding the intruder, which led to a fight. Idris is said to have stabbed him during the fight, causing injuries to his neck, shoulder, and other parts of his body that eventually killed him.

The prosecution called three witnesses and used the defendant’s confession as evidence. Idris, on the other hand, said he didn’t do it.

Muftau Bello’s lawyer called two witnesses to testify in his defense and asked the court to be lenient.

Justice Sunusi Ado-Ma’aji said in his decision that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

As a result, the judge gave Idris the death penalty by hanging.

“I hereby sentence Idris to death by hanging for stabbing the victim in the neck, shoulder, and other parts of his body, which led to his death.” The judge said, “May the Lord have mercy on his soul.”

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Five persons, including an Imam, have been ordered to be placed under detention by an Osogbo Magistrates’ Court in relation to the death of a worshipper during morning prayers in the state capital.

Imam of Ummu Haani Adigun Memorial Central Mosque Abdulgafar Sakariyah, 51, was among those remanded in detention together with four other individuals: Kosamotu Hakeem, 50; Fokorunso Mukaila, 57; Sakariyau Hafeez, 45; and Abdulwasiu Olatunji, 29.

After the Osun State Police Command filed an application to remand the suspects for advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the accused were brought before Magistrate A. Daramola on Monday.

The police asked for an order putting the suspects to a detention facility while investigations are completed and legal counsel is gathered in a motion filed ex parte.

Inspector Bashir Sulaiman of the State Criminal Investigation Department’s Homicide Section, SCID, Osogbo, deposed to an affidavit supporting the application.

“The incident occurred on January 30, 2026, at about 6:15am during Subuhi prayers at the central mosque in Osogbo,” the affidavit states.

The deceased, Ahmed Najeem, allegedly entered the mosque and “forcefully collected the microphone from the Imam during the morning prayer,” according to Inspector Sulaiman.

The affidavit also stated that the respondents “beat the Imam to death in an attempt to hit him with the microphone stand.”

The police emphasized that a remand order was necessary in order to legitimately detain the suspects in custody, and they informed the court that the application was filed in accordance with the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Osun State, 2018.

“There is no other way to remand the respondents in a correctional center pending the outcome of legal advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions,” it continued, “unless the application is granted.”

Magistrate Daramola granted the motion after reviewing the application and directed that the five suspects be placed under remand at the Ilesa Correctional Center.

The case was postponed to February 24, 2026, for additional discussion while the DPP issued legal advice.

According to reports, on Friday, January 30, 2026, a group of devotees severely injured Najeem, a vehicle painter.

However, he passed away later that day due to his injuries, which led to chaos as his friends and family stormed the mosque during Friday Juma’at prayers.

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Yahaya Bello, the former governor of Kogi State, was given permission by a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday to travel to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to observe the final ten days of Ramadan.

It was stated that Justice Emeka Nwite granted the plea following a motion submitted by the ex-governor’s counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN).

In the January 19 and January 20 motion, Daudu asked the court to grant his client a temporary foreign passport release so that he might undertake the smaller hajj (Umrah).

He said the former governor intended to go between March 13 and March 22, during the tail end of the Islamic fasting month, which this year spans from February 18 to March 19.

Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) counsel, stated that the organization had no issues with the application.

Bello told the court that while he would have loved to spend the entire 30 days of Ramadan, he was being mindful of his pending trial when asked how many days he intended to spend in the Holy Land.

Bello remarked, “I have not travelled outside this country in the last eight years.

“I would have loved to observe Shawwal right away after spending the entire month of Ramadan in Mecca, but I won’t want to take anyone for granted.”

He said that he would only be in Mecca for the final ten days of the fast.

Justice Nwite’s decision on the motion stated that the court had no justification for rejecting the request because the prosecution had not objected.

“I have listened to the submission of the learned counsel to the defendant and also observed that the prosecution is not opposing the application.

The judge decided that the defendant will only go in the Holy Land for ten days, starting on March 13.

In order to continue the trial, the judge postponed the case to January 30.

The EFCC is prosecuting Yahaya Bello for allegedly engaging in financial mismanagement while serving as Kogi State’s governor.

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The Nigeria Police Force has suspended the nationwide enforcement of the Tinted Glass Permit policy following an interim court order restraining the action, pending the determination of a substantive suit.

Recall that the Police had on December 15, 2025, announced plans to resume enforcement of the Tinted Glass Permit, with effect from January 2, 2026, as part of measures to enhance public safety and internal security.
However, in a statement issued on Thursday, the Force disclosed that it was served with an interim order of court in Suit No. HOR/FHR/M/31/2025, issued on December 17, 2025, which barred it from proceeding with the enforcement pending the hearing and determination of the matter or the vacation of the order.

According to the release, signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Nigeria Police Force has entered appearance in the suit, raised preliminary objections, and formally applied for the vacation of the interim order.
“The court has adjourned the case to January 20, 2026, for further proceedings,” the statement said.

In compliance with the subsisting court order and in line with constitutional obligations and respect for judicial authority, the Police said enforcement of the Tinted Glass Permit policy has been placed on hold nationwide until the court reaches a decision.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to upholding the rule of law while carrying out its core mandate of protecting lives and property.
The Police assured members of the public that it would continue to rely on lawful, intelligence-driven strategies to tackle security challenges across the country and would issue further guidance as developments unfold following the court’s determination.

The Force urged citizens to remain calm, noting that any updates on the matter would be communicated in the overriding interest of public order and national security.

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A former Abia State Commissioner for Information, Trade and Investment, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, has asked the Federal High Court in Lagos to set aside an ex-parte order issued against him in a N500 million privacy suit filed by lawyer Ken Ahia, SAN.

In sworn court papers filed on December 29, 2025, Okiyi urged the court to discharge the order granted on December 3, 2025, arguing that the court lacked jurisdiction and that the matter involves issues of public expenditure which, he said, are open to public scrutiny under the law.
The suit was filed by Ahia, head of Ken Ahia & Associates, who is seeking enforcement of his fundamental rights.

He had earlier written to Okiyi on October 26, 2025, demanding a retraction, public apology and damages over the publication of documents he described as private.
Following Okiyi’s refusal to meet those demands, Ahia approached the Federal High Court in Lagos and obtained an interim order restraining further public comments on the matter.

In his response before the court, Okiyi stated that the documents in dispute were sourced from publicly available materials and relate to payments made by a state government.
He argued that documents connected to public funds cannot be treated as purely private, citing existing procurement and transparency laws.
Okiyi asked the court to consider the interest of justice, the right of citizens to question public spending, and the need for openness in democratic governance when deciding the case.

The court has adjourned the matter to a later date for further hearing.

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The Federal High Court In Abuja on Tuesday ordered the remand of the Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing and determination of their bail application.

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