By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

A federal high court in Abuja has permitted Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), to serve President Bola Tinubu with court documents in his suit challenging the president’s eligibility for the 2027 elections.

Inyang Ekwo, presiding judge, granted the application for substituted service on Wednesday after hearing an ex parte motion filed by Olanrewaju Omotayo-Ojo, Atiku’s counsel.

The judge ordered that the processes be served on Tinubu through the All Progressives Congress (APC) within seven days.

The order followed the plaintiffs’ inability to personally serve Tinubu with the originating processes in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1888/2026.

Atiku and the ADC are the plaintiffs in the suit, while Tinubu, APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are the first to third defendants respectively.

At the hearing, Omotayo-Ojo, who held the brief of Silas Onu, told the court that the application for substituted service was filed because efforts to serve Tinubu personally had been unsuccessful.

Following the lawyer’s indication that the plaintiffs could effect service within seven days, Ekwo ordered that the processes be served within the period.

The judge adjourned the case until September 28 for mention.

Atiku and the ADC are challenging Tinubu’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election over an NYSC discharge certificate which they allege was forged.

In the suit, Atiku alleged that Tinubu submitted a certificate bearing the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle” to INEC, thereby presenting false information to the electoral body.

The plaintiffs are relying on section 137(1)(j) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which deals with disqualification arising from the presentation of a forged certificate to INEC.

They are asking the court to declare that Tinubu presented a forged certificate and disqualify him and the APC from participating in the 2027 presidential election.

Tinubu and APC have denied submitting any forged certificate to INEC for either the 2023 or 2027 presidential elections.

In their joint counter-affidavit filed on September 9, the president and APC asked the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that it is incompetent and that the plaintiffs lacked the legal right to institute it.

They also denied submitting Form CF001 to INEC for the 2023 or 2027 election as alleged by Atiku and ADC.

INEC has separately challenged the competence of the suit, citing, among other grounds, statute bar, lack of locus standi, absence of a reasonable cause of action and abuse of court process.

Two senior advocates of Nigeria — Akin Olujinmi and Wole Olanipekun — have separately filed processes indicating that they are representing Tinubu in the suit.

Olujinmi filed a counter-affidavit and written address on behalf of Tinubu and APC, challenging the competence of the case and Atiku’s legal standing to challenge Tinubu’s candidacy.

He argued that Atiku’s allegation of forgery, being a criminal allegation, must be proved beyond reasonable doubt under the Evidence Act.

Olujinmi also argued that Atiku and ADC had not produced evidence from the NYSC disclaiming the issuance of the discharge certificate to Tinubu.

He urged the court to uphold the preliminary objection and dismiss the suit.

Separately, Olanipekun filed a preliminary objection and counter-affidavit on behalf of Tinubu, also seeking the dismissal of the case.

In a letter dated September 10 and addressed to the deputy chief registrar of the court, Olanipekun said he had been briefed by Tinubu to lead a team of lawyers to represent and defend his interests in the matter.

Olanipekun said Tinubu had not been served with the originating processes and that the president instructed his legal team to appear when the matter came up on September 1.

He said Omosanya Popoola, a senior advocate, appeared in court on that date on Tinubu’s behalf and sought to collect copies of the processes filed by the plaintiffs.

Olanipekun subsequently asked the court to provide his team with either the service copy or a certified true copy of the originating processes to enable Tinubu to respond to the suit.

The plaintiffs have also applied to amend the suit, including a request to correct the description of the INEC form allegedly attached to the certificate from Form CF001 to Form EC9.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has commended Maryam Ibrahim Dan’Azumi, for winning the women’s category at the 46th King Abdulaziz International Qur’anic Competition in Makah, Saudi Arabia.
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‎The First Lady gave the commendation on Tuesday in Abuja, and awarded Dan’ Azumi the sum of N20 million.

‎She was accompanied by her father, Ibrahim Dan’ Azumi, the Governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya, and other members of the state government.
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‎Tinubu described Maryam’s accomplishment as a pride to the nation and the girl child globally.
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‎She described the winner as an inspiration to the girl child, and commended her parents for supporting her education and nurturing her talent.
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‎She said the award was not only a personal triumph but also a source of national pride, as she has placed Nigeria prominently on the global stage through her mastery of the Holy Qur’an.
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‎The first lady described Dan’Azumi and her elder sister, Hajara, who came first in a similar competition in Jordan in 2024, as inspiration to young Nigerians.
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‎She particularly commended their parents, teachers, mentors, and Gov. Inuwa Yahaya for their mentorship and support.
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‎”Maryam’s achievement show the value of hard work, discipline and dedication.

“I urge her to embrace mentorship as she advances in her education,” Tinubu said.

She said education remained a key priority of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, with emphasis on inclusive education and creating opportunities for young Nigerians to develop their talents.

‎The First Lady also announced her willingness to support Dan’Azumi pursuit of post graduate degree.

Earlier, the Gombe state governor said that the state was not deficient in education.

Yahaya described Dan’Azumi’s achievement as a source of pride to Gombe state and Nigeria, noting that she had progressed through local and national Qur’anic competitions before qualifying for the international contest.

‎Responding, Dan’Azumi thanked the First Lady for the honour.

She said participating in the Saudi Arabian competition gave her global exposure.

She expressed hope that her achievement would inspire other young Nigerians to work harder and excel.

Dan’ Azumi further expressed gladness and joyfully presented her award to the first Lady.

‎She encouraged the youths to develop themselves both mentally and physically.

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A philanthropist and prominent APC chieftain in Kano from Fagge Local Government Area, Hon. Haruna Kabiru Wakili, has called on Nigerians to re-elect President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all APC candidates at every level in the 2027 elections.

Speaking, Hon. Wakili said as loyal members of the APC, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a leader with “focus” and “target” on the things he wants to achieve.
“He has not turned a blind eye like past leaders who understood the problems but refused to take proper action because they feared losing votes in an election. So they did nothing about it,” he said.

He added that history shows that anyone who tried to remove fuel subsidy did so in their second term.
“For example, former President Olusegun Obasanjo tried to remove the subsidy in his second term. At that time, Adams Oshiomhole was NLC President and organized protests, and Nigerians came out and said they did not agree.
The same thing happened to Jonathan in 2012. Even President Buhari, before he won the election, asked, ‘Who is subsidizing who?’ Is it the Nigerian Government that is giving Nigerians subsidy, or are Nigerians giving the Nigerian Government subsidy?”

Hon. Wakili said even when Buhari got into office, he realized there was a fundamental problem affecting the country’s economy, but he could not solve it because of fear of protests. “In his second term he said he would remove the subsidy, but he could not remove it completely.”

“But when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu came in, he said, ‘Let us tell ourselves the truth. There is no way we can continue walking with a broken leg. One day if we fall, we will not get up.’ On the very first day he was sworn in as President, he announced the removal of fuel subsidy. It was a painful decision. Even we did not understand it at first and we opposed it. But now we understand where he was headed.

“Today, anyone with knowledge of Nigeria’s economy knows that the problem has already been addressed. This fracture that was troubling the country, President Tinubu has fixed. What remains is for the leg to heal completely. Once we are fully healed, we will get up and run. No one will be able to catch us in Africa in terms of economic strength.”

He added that Tinubu has reformed the foreign exchange market. “Before, if you went to look for US Dollars you would be in distress. There were different rates everywhere. Some people were just sitting doing nothing and they were given dollar ‘allocations’ and were making billions without adding any ‘value’. Now the rate has been unified. Businessmen are seeing progress. Investors are coming in every day because the economy is improving.”

Hon. Wakili also commended the work of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. He said since Kano State was created, there has never been a Governor who turned it into a modern city comparable to major cities in the world except Abba.
“In places where you did not think a road would be built, new roads have now been constructed in the city and rural areas. Even the 5-kilometer roads abandoned by past governments are now being completed. Work is also ongoing on quality drainage systems and solar-powered streetlights.”

Wakili said that in the upcoming 2027 election, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has strong acceptance and stands a good chance of winning a second term under the APC.
“The party will defeat all governorship candidates of the opposition parties, especially *NDC* candidates who have no record of assisting the development of the people in all the political positions they have held.”

Hon. Wakili expressed optimism about the success of Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau I. Jibrin of Kano North in the 2027 election.
“If it were not because Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf joined the APC, Senator Barau I. Jibrin would be our governorship candidate. When the APC had no Governor in Kano, he was the one sustaining the party for almost 3 years. As a Senator and Deputy President of the Senate, he has given people jobs and appointments, and is distributing empowerment funds to thousands. That is why the people of Kano North will vote for him again.”*

He said in Kano Central they have Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, a highly respected person, a former Governor and former Senator, who is also the current APC Kano Central Senatorial candidate.
“He played a major role in developing Kano when he was Governor. When he was Senator he brought many constituency projects. Unlike Kwankwaso who, when he became Senator, did not bring even one brick in the name of constituency projects.”

In Kano South, he commended *Senator Kawu Sumaila* for working harder in his first term than the one who spent 16 years in the seat. He urged the people of Kano South to re-elect Kawu Sumaila as Senator for a second term in 2027 to continue enjoying the dividends of democracy.

Hon. Haruna Kabiru Wakili called on the people of Kano and Nigeria to vote for APC candidates in 2027.
“Because President Tinubu has the intention to improve the economy and solve the security problem. This is not about politics. It affects everyone. Let us support the Government at every level.”