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Court Sacks Ex-Speaker Dogara From House Of Reps Over Defection

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A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, ordered former Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, to vacate his seat as a member representing Dass, Tafawa Balewa, and Bogoro Federal Constituency of Bauchi State.

Delivering judgment, Justice Donatus Okorowo, declared that having defected from Peoples Democratic Party to All Progressives Congress, Dogara was no longer qualified to occupy the seat by Section 68(1)(g) of the constitution.

Justice Okorowo aligned with the argument of the PDP that by defecting from the party that sponsored him to the ninth National Assembly before the expiration of his tenure, Dogara ought to vacate the seat as he was no longer qualified to partake in the activities of the lower house.

The judge, who held that the action of the lawmaker is prohibited by law, agreed that the aim of Section 68(1)(g) was to check political prostitution among the legislators.

“The judgment is therefore given in favor of the plaintiffs I hereby granted the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs,” he declared.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the PDP and one of its members in Bauchi State had, in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1060/20, sued Dogara, the speaker of the House of Representatives.

Other defendants are the Attorney General of the Federation, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the APC as 1st to 4th defendants respectively.

In a related development, Okorowo had, earlier in a judgment, dismissed the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/883/30 and filed by Incorporated Trustees of United Global Resources for Peace Organisation against Dogara and five others because the group lacked locus standi to institute the matter.

NAN on April 11, reported that the judgments, in the two separate suits filed against Dogara, were stalled due to the FHC’s Easter vacation.

But one of the court workers informed NAN that the judgments might be delivered if the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, gave a fiat to the effect.

The court began the vacation on April 8 and will end on April 25.

The PDP and the group had asked the court to remove the former speaker of the lower house as a member representing Dass, Tafawa Balewa, and Bogoro Federal Constituency of Bauchi State, over his defection to APC.

Dogara had, on July 24, 2020, defected from the PDP to the APC when he submitted a resignation letter to the chairman of the Bogoro ‘C’ Ward in the state.

The plaintiff, through their counsel, Jubrin Jubrin, said by Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution, Dogara by defecting from the party that sponsored him to the ninth National Assembly before the expiration of his tenure, ought to vacate the seat as he was no longer qualified to partake in the activities of the lower house.

NAN reports that Justice Inyang Ekwo, a sister judge, had, on March 8, sacked Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi and his deputy, Kelechi Igwe, alongside other lawmakers who dumped the PDP for APC, describing their action as unlawful.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo, another judge in the Abuja division, had also, on March 21, ordered the 20 lawmakers from Cross River to vacate their seats following their defection from the PDP to APC.

The lawmakers comprise two House of Representatives members and 18 state House of Assembly members.

Source: NAN

BIG STORY

Obasa Bolsters APC’s Membership E-Registration With Strategic Tech Support

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In a decisive show of leadership and commitment to the success of the All Progressives Congress (APC)’s ongoing membership e-registration exercise, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudasiru Obasa has donated eighty (80) 5G-enabled tablets and forty (40) LaserJet printers to aid the registration process across the state.

The items were presented earlier today, Tuesday, January 20, on the Speaker’s behalf by Hon. Mufutau Egberongbe, a former member of the House of Representatives; Hon. Lanre Ogunyemi, a two-term state lawmaker and former secretary of the APC in Lagos; Hon. Johnson Babatunde, former executive chairman of Orile Agege Local Council Development Area; and Hon. Abdoulbaq Ladi Balogun, Managing Director, Lagos State Ferry Services (LAGFERRY).

Additionally, Speaker Obasa also deployed eighty (80) well-trained personnel, comprising computer-savvy youths, to complement the existing party staff and ensure extensive coverage across all local government areas.

Speaker Obasa reckons that equipping the party with cutting-edge technology and skilled manpower will eliminate bottlenecks, enhance efficiency, and guarantee that every eligible member of the APC in Lagos State is captured. More importantly, the intervention, he says, will position the Lagos APC to achieve a comprehensive and transparent registration outcome.

Party stakeholders have lauded Speaker Obasa’s foresight and dedication, noting that his contributions reflect loyalty to the APC, proactive leadership that enhances political mobilization with technology, and a broader vision of youth empowerment, digital inclusion, and grassroots political participation.

“Speaker Obasa’s strategic tech support underscores his reputation as a leader who prioritises innovation, inclusivity, and the growth of the party at the grassroots level,” said Hon. Babatunde.

The membership e-registration exercise, scheduled to conclude by the end of January, is expected to significantly expand the APC’s database and strengthen its organisational capacity ahead of future political engagements.

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Court Adjourns Trial Of Anthony Joshua’s Driver To February 25

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A Magistrate Court in Sagamu area of Ogun State has adjourned the trial of Adeniyi Kayode to February 25, 2026.

Kayode is a 46-year-old driver involved in the fatal accident that killed heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua’s personal trainer, Latif Ayodele, and strength and conditioning coach, Sina Ghami.

The driver was charged to Sagamu Magistrates Court on January 2, with Magistrate Olufunilayo Somefun presiding over the case.

He was on trial for a four-count charge, which includes dangerous driving causing death, contrary to Section 5(1) of the Federal Highway Act, Cap F: 135, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 (as applicable in Ogun State), reckless and negligent driving, contrary to Section 6(1) of the same Act.

The other two charges included driving without due care and attention, causing bodily harm and damage to property, contrary to Section 7(1) of the Act, and driving without a valid national driver’s licence, contrary to Section 10 (1) of the Federal Highway Act.

When the case came for hearing, the prosecution counsel, Nijiwe Richard, called for the adjournment of the case to allow the prosecution counsel to duplicate the case tile to the office of the Attorney General of the state through the office of the Department of Public Prosecution for advice and in the interest of justice

The request was initially rejected by the counsel to the defendant, Abiodun Olalekan, who expressed the readiness to forge ahead with the case.

Giving her ruling on the request for adjournment, the court granted the application and adjourned the case to the 25th of February for further hearing.

The defendant was granted bail for ₦5,000,000 with two sureties.

Joshua lost his two friends, Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, along the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on December 29, 2025.

The Lexus SUV collided with a stationary truck, and Joshua and the driver sustained minor injuries.

Anthony Joshua was later discharged from the hospital after being deemed clinically fit to continue his recovery at home.

The former world heavyweight champion, along with his mother, visited the funeral home in Lagos to pay their final respects to Ayodele and Ghami, as their bodies were being prepared for repatriation.

He later travelled to the United Kingdom for their funeral.

The remains of Ghami and Ayodele were flown back to the United Kingdom, where a funeral prayer service was held on January 4, 2026, at the London Central Mosque.

Ghami, Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach, and Ayodele, his personal trainer and close confidant, were widely regarded as central figures in the boxer’s camp. Their deaths sent shockwaves across the international boxing community.

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Ex-Minister Diezani Appears In London Court For ‘£100,000 Bribery’ Trial

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Former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, has appeared before the Southwark Crown Court in London, United Kingdom, for the preliminary hearing of her trial premised on bribery charges.

Alison-Madueke, who served from 2010 to 2015, was the first woman to hold the office of oil minister in Nigeria and the first female president of the global oil cartel, the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

The case was listed on the cause list for Court 8 before Justice Thornton on Monday.

Alison-Madueke was in court for the preliminary hearing ahead of her full trial, scheduled to commence on January 26, 2026.

Preliminary proceedings, including technical matters and jury selection, began this week, with Alison-Madueke in attendance.

The 65-year-old has been on bail since her arrest in London in October 2015. She has denied six charges against her.

She was formally charged in 2023 by the UK’s National Crime Agency with offences of accepting bribes between 2011 to 2015.

“We suspect Diezani Alison-Madueke abused her power in Nigeria and accepted financial rewards for awarding multi-million-pound contracts,” the NCA said at the time.

According to the indictment, Alison-Madueke benefitted from at least £100,000 ($134,000) in cash, chauffeur-driven cars, flights on private jets, and the use of multiple London properties.

The charges also detailed financial rewards including furniture, renovation work, and staff for the properties, payment of private school fees, and gifts from top designer shops such as Louis Vuitton.

The trial is scheduled to begin on Monday, January 26, and is expected to last 10 to 12 weeks.

Two others are also being prosecuted on bribery charges linked to the case: Doye Agama, who appeared in court via video link on Monday, and Olatimbo Ayinde, who was present in the dock.

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