Kano State Governor Kabiru Abba Yusuf has ordered the immediate closure of bank accounts belonging to all ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) in the state.

The directive was issued during a meeting at the Government House, involving the Chairman of the Kano State Internal Revenue Service and the heads of various MDAs.

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Governor Yusuf stated that the decision aims to ensure proper accounting and utilization of government revenues, emphasizing the need for transparent financial management to foster the state’s development.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has overturned a lower court’s order that had prevented Uche Secondus, former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), along with Celestine Omehia, a former Rivers Governor, and Austin Opara, a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, from participating in PDP meetings.

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In a unanimous decision by a three-judge panel, the appellate court found the appeals filed by the three PDP members to be valid.

The court ruled that the Federal High Court’s order, which had barred Secondus, Omehia, and Opara from attending the PDP’s National Executive Committee meetings or engaging in its deliberations, was issued in error.

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The Court of Appeal determined that decisions regarding party membership and participation in meetings are internal matters for the political party to resolve.

It emphasized that such issues are not subject to judicial review, deeming them outside the court’s jurisdiction.

Consequently, the Appellate Court nullified the Federal High Court’s proceedings and the restraining orders issued by Justice Inyang Ekwo on April 5.

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has constituted four investigative panels to probe 27 High Court judges accused of various acts of judicial misconduct.

The council, which is chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, also issued a stern warning to Justice O. M. Olagunju of the Oyo State High Court for the inappropriate language used in a letter directed to the CJN.

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The letter challenged the Council’s decision and policy regarding the appointment of the President of the Customary Court of Appeal in Oyo State.

In a statement released by the NJC’s Director of Information, Mr. Soji Oye, it was disclosed that the council, during its 106th meeting, reviewed the report from its Preliminary Complaints Assessment Committee.

The report pertained to 22 petitions filed against the 27 judges from both Federal and State High Courts.

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Following the review, the Council found the allegations in some of the petitions to be credible and consequently established four committees to thoroughly investigate the cases.

However, the NJC dismissed 18 other petitions due to lack of merit, abandonment, or because they were deemed sub judice.

Among the dismissed petitions were those against Hon. Justice Monica B. Dongban-Mensem, President of the Court of Appeal, and several other Justices from both the Court of Appeal and Federal High Court, including Hon. Justice John Tsoho, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, and Hon. Justice Okon E. Abang.

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Additionally, five judges have been placed on the NJC’s pre-sanction Watch List Register due to poor performance.

The NJC indicated that these judges could face sanctions if their performance does not improve.

As this was the final meeting presided over by the outgoing CJN, Justice Ariwoola, before his retirement, he expressed his gratitude to the Council members and the Secretariat for their support.

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In return, the members praised the outgoing CJN and wished him good health in his retirement.

A tense situation unfolded in Jos, Plateau State, where Hon. Christopher Audu, the Transition Implementation Committee (TIC) Chairman of Qua’an Pan Local Government Area, was brutally assaulted by delegates during a primary election.

The incident, which took place on Thursday, escalated after Audu was declared the winner of the election.

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According to eyewitnesses, the election initially proceeded peacefully, but tensions flared when some delegates and PDP members, who had been barred from entering the hall, forced their way in.

The group accused Audu of manipulating the process by selecting his loyalists as delegates while preventing genuine delegates from participating.

In a fit of anger, the mob attacked Hon. Audu, severely beating him.

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The TIC Chairman sustained significant injuries and was immediately rushed from Ba’ap, the headquarters of Qua’an Pan LGA, to an undisclosed location for urgent medical care.

The chaos did not stop with Audu’s assault, as the enraged delegates also reportedly attacked officials of the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) who were present to oversee the process.

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As of now, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has not released an official statement regarding the incident.

Medical personnel are currently working to save Hon. Audu’s life as he remains in critical condition.

The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has condemned the new electoral law introduced by the Anambra State government, labeling it a direct assault on Nigeria’s democratic values.

In a statement issued on Friday by its National Chairman, Yusuf Mamman Dantalle, IPAC vowed to resist the law, which they claim undermines the Constitution and the Electoral Act of 2022.

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The council highlighted that the law was hurriedly passed by the Anambra State House of Assembly in a single day, just ahead of the upcoming September 28 Local Government elections.

IPAC argues that this rushed process is a clear attempt to manipulate the electoral framework to favor certain political interests.

Dantalle criticized the law as a “retrogressive and anti-democratic” move that exemplifies “legislative recklessness” and a “deliberate assault on the rule of law.”

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IPAC asserted that the law is designed to centralize power within the state, contradicting the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and the 2022 Electoral Act, which delineate the roles and powers of political parties and electoral bodies.

The council emphasized its intention to challenge the law in court, citing the Supreme Court’s previous rulings against similar legislative overreach.

IPAC also reiterated its long-standing advocacy for the abolition of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), arguing that these bodies have consistently failed to conduct free and fair elections.

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IPAC called on the Anambra State government to withdraw the law to avoid political instability and legal battles, warning that the new legislation could disrupt the relative peace in the state and set a dangerous precedent for the country’s democracy.

The council further reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic process and ensuring that power remains with the people, not through backdoor legislative maneuvers.