Connect with us

News

Court Rejects El-Rufai’s Bail Plea, Fixes April 23 For Arraignment

Published

on

The Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, on Wednesday refused to entertain the bail application filed by former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, describing the request as premature and adjourning the matter until April 23, 2026.

The ruling was delivered by Justice Joyce Obehi Abdulmalik.

A lawyer who witnessed the proceedings disclosed that the court declined to allow El-Rufai’s legal team to move the bail application during Wednesday’s sitting.

“On the El-Rufai case, the court denied his counsel the right to move for his bail application just now. He stated the bail application is immature and he adjourned the case to the 23rd of April 2026 to arraign El-Rufai properly before the court,” SaharaReporters quoted the lawyer as stating.

The decision means the former governor will remain in custody pending his formal arraignment.

El-Rufai was not present in court during the proceedings as he remains in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission.

JomogNews reports that some chieftains of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), including Bolaji Abdullahi, were in court to observe the proceedings.

The development marks the latest twist in the escalating legal battles between the former governor and federal anti-corruption agencies.

Prior to Wednesday’s proceedings, El-Rufai had filed a ₦1bn fundamental rights enforcement suit against the ICPC and three other respondents, alleging unlawful invasion of his Abuja residence.

The suit, filed on February 20, 2026, before the Federal High Court in Abuja with case number FHC/ABJ/CS/345/2026, listed the ICPC, the Chief Magistrate of the FCT Magistrate Court, the Inspector-General of Police, and the Attorney-General of the Federation as respondents.

According to court filings by his counsel, Oluwole Iyamu, SAN, operatives of the ICPC, accompanied by police officers, allegedly stormed El-Rufai’s residence at House 12, Mambilla Street, Aso Drive, Abuja, on February 19, 2026.

The legal team contended that the operation was based on what it described as a defective search warrant.

They argued that the warrant lacked specificity regarding the items to be seized and contained typographical and material errors, which they said rendered it invalid.

Concerns have also been raised by El-Rufai’s camp over his continued detention and alleged treatment while in custody.

His media adviser, Muyiwa Adekeye, had alleged that the former governor suffered a nosebleed during detention and was denied direct access to meals brought by family members.

The aide further claimed that El-Rufai was moved overnight from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to the ICPC without prior notice to his lawyers or family.

El-Rufai’s legal team has maintained that no valid remand order has been presented to justify his continued detention beyond constitutionally permitted limits. Efforts to secure his bail, they said, have so far remained unsuccessful.

JomogNews reports that with Wednesday’s ruling, the court is expected to formally arraign the former governor when proceedings resume on April 23, 2026.

News

Delta NMA Declares Blessing CEO’s Cancer Report Fraudulent

Published

on

By

The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Delta State branch, has officially debunked the cancer claims made by relationship influencer Blessing Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO.

In a statement on Tuesday, the association revealed that the document is an altered version of an original medical report belonging to a different patient diagnosed with breast cancer.

The statement, jointly signed by NMA Delta State Chairman, Dr. Israel Adaigho, and Secretary, Dr. Usamah Hannah, was sighted by The Nation on Tuesday.

According to the NMA, the viral report was purportedly issued by Xinus Medical Diagnostics and signed by consultant pathologist Dr. O.A. Odigwe.

However, Dr. Odigwe, who is the proprietor of the diagnostic centre, clarified that his facility never issued any report to Blessing Okoro.

The association explained that Xinus Medical Diagnostics is located in Asaba, Delta State not Enugu State as claimed in the circulating document.

The centre was contacted in May 2025 by a doctor from a private hospital in Asaba to conduct a confirmatory histology test for a patient identified as Mbara Deborah, who had a suspected case of breast cancer.

The test confirmed breast cancer, and the original result was issued to the referring doctor on May 9, 2025.

The NMA stated that the document currently being paraded online by the law firm Allen Juris Law is the original report bearing the name Mbara Deborah.

The version linked to Blessing CEO appears to be a doctored copy of this same report.

The statement read in part: “Our attention has been drawn to an online histology report purportedly issued to one Blessing Okoro, aka Blessing CEO, by Xinus Medical Diagnostics allegedly located in Enugu State. The said histology report was also alleged to have been signed by Dr. O.A. Odigwe, a consultant pathologist.

“The proprietor of Xinus Medical Diagnostics, Dr. O.A. Odigwe, who is also a member of the Nigerian Medical Association, Delta State chapter, has reached us and offered the following clarification: that Xinus Medical Diagnostics is located in Asaba, Delta State and did not at any time issue any report to Blessing Okoro.

“The centre was contacted in May 2025 by a doctor from a private hospital in Asaba to do a confirmatory test on a possible case of breast cancer for a patient, Mbara Deborah. The test was done and the result issued to the referring doctor as a case of breast cancer on May 9, 2025.

“A copy of that result is the one currently being circulated online by the law firm, Allen Juris Law, with the name Mbara Deborah as the patient. That result from the law firm is the original version issued to the patient through her hospital.”

The NMA said the clarification became necessary because of the way the altered report was allegedly being used to solicit public sympathy and financial assistance.

It urged the public to be cautious and warned against actions that could tarnish the integrity of medical professionals.

The association also called on relevant security agencies to take appropriate steps to protect unsuspecting members of the public.

“The integrity of our association and its members is very paramount and should not therefore be taken for granted.

“We call on the authorities responsible for maintaining law and order to do the needful and save unsuspecting members of the public from being unduly taken advantage of,” it added.

Recall that Blessing CEO recently solicited financial help from the public for the treatment of what she claimed was stage four cancer.

Following widespread backlash and allegations that her medical report had been edited, she made a U-turn, stating in an interview: “I don’t have stage 4 cancer. That was a miscommunication.”

Continue Reading

News

Abuja Court Jails Boko Haram Food Supplier, Hamatu Modu For 40 Years

Published

on

By

Justice Binta Fatima Nyako of the Federal High Court in Abuja has sentenced Hamatu Modu, a major food supplier for Boko Haram terrorists, to 40 years imprisonment for his involvement in terrorism activities.

Modu, who confessed in the open court to supplying food items and information to terrorists, was put on trial by the federal government through the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

He was slammed with 4- count charges and instantly pleaded guilty to them.

The Director of the Public Prosecution of the Federation, DPPF, Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, led the prosecution.

In his judgment, Justice Nyako sentenced him to 10 years on each of the count but due to the plea of the defense counsel, the judge ordered that the 40 years imprisonment should run concurrently, giving the convict opportunity to spend only 10 years.

In another development, Isah Ali, another food supplier also in Borno, was jailed 10 years by Justice Nyako.

His jail term will, however, start three years ago when he was arrested and clamped into detention.

The convict confessed to committing the offence as charged.

Justice Nyako ordered that the convicts be made to undergo rehabilitation and radicalization at the end of their service of the jail terms.

The Federal Ministry of Interior was ordered to determine where the two men will serve their jail terms.

Continue Reading

News

Just In: Kebbi Assembly Speaker Muhammad Ankwai Passes Away

Published

on

By

The Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly, Muhammad Usman Ankwai has passed away in the late hours of Monday, 6 April 2026.

Ankwai, who represented Zuru Constituency under the All Progressives Congress (APC), was elected Speaker at the inauguration of the 10th Assembly on June 8, 2023.

Details surrounding the circumstances of his death were not immediately disclosed at the time of filing this report.

His death has, however, triggered an outpouring of condolences from fellow lawmakers, political associates, and residents across Kebbi State, many of whom have described him as a dedicated public servant who contributed to legislative development in the state.

Further announcements regarding burial arrangements are expected to be made by his family soon.

 

Continue Reading

Trending