By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Court of Appeal in Abuja on Thursday, set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/517/2026, which nullified parts of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s electoral guidelines for the conduct of the 2027 general elections.

The appellate court, in a unanimous judgment, held that the Youth Party, which instituted the suit challenging the guidelines, lacked the locus standi to do so.

The lead judgment, prepared by Justice Adebukola Banjoko and read by Justice Okon Abang, held that the party failed to demonstrate how the guidelines affected it or its members in the conduct of its primary election or the submission of names of its candidates for the 2027 polls.

Justice Banjoko held that the Youth Party did not establish any injury arising from the guidelines to justify the institution of the suit.

The three-member panel further held that Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court erred when, on May 20, he nullified the guidelines on the grounds that they were inconsistent with some provisions of the Electoral Act, adding that the decision occasioned a miscarriage of justice.

In the May 20 judgment, Justice Umar had ruled that INEC lacked the constitutional and statutory powers to compel political parties to conduct their primaries within timelines fixed by the commission.

The trial court also nullified aspects of INEC’s timetable requiring parties to submit their membership registers and candidates’ particulars ahead of the timelines prescribed by the Electoral Act, holding that the commission could not lawfully abridge statutory timelines.

Dissatisfied with the decision, INEC appealed, arguing through its counsel, Dr Alex Izinyom, that the Federal High Court failed to determine its preliminary objection that the suit was hypothetical and academic, thereby denying the commission fair hearing.

The Court of Appeal upheld the appeal, and vacated the Federal High Court’s judgment, thereby restoring the validity of INEC’s electoral guidelines for the 2027 elections.

The Counsel to the former Governor of Kaduna state, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, Paul Erokoro (SAN), has apologized to the State High Court sitting in Kaduna on Wednesday.

The counsel sought the court permission to discontinue the three applications earlier filed by the defendant’s legal team.

Erokoro has also filled a fresh application in the ongoing corrupt allegation instituted against El-rufai by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

As the sitting continues before Justice Darius Khobo, El-Rufai’s lawyer, in his submissions admitted that the pending applications are combative in nature.

While apologizing for bothering the court, he mentioned that he could not adopt some of the languages used in the applications earlier filed by the legal team of the defendant.

Erokoro who just took over the case, explained that he had studied all the applications filed earlier, but due to their confrontational nature, hence the need to file a fresh application.

He pleaded for more time to file a new application, just as he sought the permission to withdraw the three pending applications earlier filed.

While fielding questions from journalists shortly after the court sitting, one of the prosecution counsels, Ibrahim Muktar explained that between the adjourned day till date, two more applications were filed on the same issue, asking the judge to requise himself.

Muktar who frowned at the filling of fresh application by El-Rufai’s new counsel, described such action as a delay method, adding that as prosecutors, and in the interest of justice, they have a duty to prosecute without any delay.

He explained further that the matter came up on the 6th of July for hearing with all the witnesses ready, however, the defense’s counsel filed an application with other series of applications aiming at frustrating the trial.

“Charge has been filed, prosecution is ready, defense is bringing multiple application and that is what is destroying the time, frustrating the prosecution from commencing the trial, we would have gone far if not because of these applications,” the counsel explained.

Following the plea by El-Rufai’s new counsel for more time to file a new application, the case has been adjourned to 22nd day of July,2026 for hearing.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties, including a university, linked to Mr Abubakar Malami, former Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, to the Federal Government.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, in a ruling, held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s, EFCC, had been able to prove that the properties were reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

Justice Abdulmalik held that Malami had failed to show that the properties were acquired through lawful sources.

Earlier, the judge dismissed several applications, motions on notice and applications to show cause filed by Mr Malami, his family members and some companies linked to the properties, describing them as “wanting in merit.”

She held that the issue before the court was not “who owns the properties, but how legitimate are the funds used to acquire the properties.”

According to the judge, the respondents had “not dislodged the reasonable suspicion that the properties were acquired by unlawful activities.”

Justice Abdulmalik relied on Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act in granting the final forfeiture order.

The judge, however, vacated the interim forfeiture order in respect of nine other properties sought to be forfeited by the EFCC.

She held that the anti-graft agency was unable to prove that the nine properties located in Kebbi and Kaduna State were gotten through unlawful activities.

Justice Abdulmalik had fixed today for judgment in the forfeiture suit filed by the EFCC against 57 properties linked to Malami.

The anti-graft agency had, in the suit, sought the final forfeiture of the properties for reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

Justice Emeka Nwite had, on Jan. 16, made an order for interim forfeiture of the 57 properties after Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, moved the motion ex-parte.

The EFCC instituted the suit, seeking the permanent forfeiture of the 57 properties worth N212.8 billion.

Following the publication of the interim order, Malami, his wife Nana Hadiza, his son, Abdulaziz, and several companies linked to the properties filed objections.

They urged the court to dismiss the EFCC’s application and set aside the interim forfeiture order, arguing that it was wrongly granted.

They also argued that the properties were lawfully acquired and that the EFCC failed to establish any connection between the assets and any unlawful activity.