News
In 30-Minutes: Tribunal Throws Out LP Petition Against PDP’s Kaduna-South Senator

By Israel Bulus, Kaduna
The National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Kaduna delivered a 3-Minutes judgement on Wednesday, dismissing the petition filed by the Labour Party (LP) Senatorial candidate seeking to invalidate the victory of the Kaduna-South Senator, Barr. Sunday Marshall Katung.
Recalled that the Senator was returned elected in the National Assembly election conducted on February 25th, 2023 by the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC)
The Kaduna-South Senator (PDP) was dragged before the tribunal by the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Engr. Micheal Auta.
The three man justices, in a unanimous judgment stated that the candidate of the labor party failed to provide substantial evidence to proved the case of compliance of electoral act and violence during the February 25th election.
In his petition, Auta alleged that the elections was marred by non-compliance of electoral processes, while elections were not conducted in some parts of Kachia and Kagarko Local Government Areas, seeking the Tribunal to nullify INEC’s proclamation.
One of the three-panel Tribunal committee who delivered the judgement, Justice O.O. Oluboyede who delivered the judgment declared that the petitioner had failed to provide credible evidence to prove his case. He dismissed the petition in its entirety.
One of the lead Counsel to the respondent, Zigwai Z. Adamu, said that the petition filed by the Labour Party candidate alleged that elections were not conducted on some certain polling units, but however, the petitioner could not adduced credible evidence as contained on their pleadings.
” The petitioner have tried to make the tribunal to go into fishing festival, to fish evidence that was never tendered for it. The Tribunal is a court of justice, not a court of emotions but evidence that is before them they’ll use at the end of the day.
” We thank the Tribunal for upholding the victory of the Kaduna-South Senator, Bar. Sunday Marshal Katung.
Meanwhile, fielding question from Journalists shortly after the ruling, The minority leader in the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. Ali Kalat commanded the Tribunal for affirming the victory of Bar. Sunday Marshal Katung.
According to him, the Kaduna-South Senator has been one of the major political player in the region, noting it was surprising for someone that was not non to challenge someone like Katung.
” Southern Kaduna has been a PDP’s region, someone cannot come and contest and election and claim victory overnight.” Kalat concluded.
End..
News
Atiku Critiques EFCC’s Detention of VDM

Former Vice President and prominent opposition leader Atiku Abubakar has vocally condemned the arrest and ongoing detention of social media influencer Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
In a statement released on Monday, Atiku characterized this action as “yet another blatant abuse of power” by the Bola Tinubu administration, alleging that it employs political repression as a governance strategy.
“Even more concerning is the fact that Mr. Otse remains in custody without any formal charges—this constitutes a flagrant violation of his constitutional rights and serves as a chilling reminder of the increasing authoritarianism under this government,” Atiku asserted.
He contended that the detention is part of a “disturbing pattern” exhibited by the Tinubu administration, which seeks to suppress fundamental freedoms, particularly targeting dissenters and opposition figures.
“We must not permit state-sponsored repression to become the hallmark of our democracy,” Atiku cautioned.
The former presidential candidate further criticized security agencies for their selective enforcement, highlighting the swift arrests of dissenters—often executed without due process—while political allies facing corruption allegations remain unscathed.
“The systematic repression of opposition voices by the Tinubu administration is nothing short of disgraceful. It represents a blatant affront to democratic principles and must be vehemently condemned and opposed,” he concluded.
News
Group accuses EFCC of stalling Matawalle probe, demands immediate action

From Amos Tauna, Kaduna
A northern-based civic group, the Concerned Northern Forum (CNF), has raised the alarm over what it describes as the deliberate delay by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate former Zamfara State governor, Bello Matawalle, despite multiple petitions and earlier commitments by the agency.
Speaking at a press conference in Kaduna on Monday, CNF Chairman, Alhaji Aliyu Muhammad Sani, said the EFCC’s inaction was “raising serious questions” about its independence and willingness to go after powerful individuals.
According to him, the group alongside other civil society bodies, had submitted petitions as far back as May and September 2024, detailing how Matawalle allegedly mismanaged a colossal amount of money in state funds during his tenure from 2019 to 2023.
“We have seen the EFCC take bold steps against other former governors and ministers. So we are asking: why the silence in this case? Who is shielding Matawalle from investigation?” Sani queried.
The CNF pointed to official financial data and loan records to back its claims, insisting that the former governor should be made to explain how federal allocations and borrowed funds running into hundreds of billions were utilised.
Sani stated that the EFCC itself, in a statement issued in May 18, 2023, had confirmed through its then Director, Media and Public Affairs, Osita Nwajah, said that EFCC is investigating Matawalle over allegations of monumental corruption award of plantom vontracts and diversion of over N70 billion, lamenting that more than a year later, nothing concrete had come out of that investigation.
National
Zamfara Lawyers Support Summons Of Governor Lawal Over Assembly Crisis

The Zamfara State Lawyer Forum has endorsed the Nigerian House of Representatives’ decision to summon Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal and leaders of the state’s House of Assembly, amid a deepening crisis within the legislature and escalating insecurity across the northwestern state.
The forum, a prominent legal advocacy group, described the summons as a constitutionally valid exercise of legislative oversight, citing Sections 88 and 89 of Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution, which empower the National Assembly to investigate matters of public interest and summon relevant officials.
Barrister Aisha Muhammed, the forum’s chairperson, said in a statement on Sunday that the House’s action was “legally valid, constitutionally supported, and deeply necessary” to uphold democratic governance and the rule of law.
She argued that Governor Lawal and state assembly leaders must answer questions regarding the suspension of seven elected assembly members and the controversial declaration of a lawmaker’s seat vacant—actions she said raised “grave constitutional questions” and potentially breached democratic norms.
“Governors and assembly leaders must not invoke immunity as a shield against legitimate oversight,” Muhammed said, referencing Section 308 of the Constitution, which grants immunity from judicial processes but does not exempt officials from non-coercive legislative inquiries.
“Accountability is the lifeblood of constitutional democracy. No public office holder, no matter how highly placed, is above the people’s right to transparency.”
The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions issued the summons on Friday, directing Governor Lawal, his Benue counterpart Hyacinth Alia, and their respective state assembly leaders to appear before it on 8 May.
The move follows a petition by the Guardians of Democracy and Rule of Law, a civil rights group, highlighting worsening insecurity and legislative dysfunction in both states.
Zamfara has been plagued by rampant banditry, with recent attacks claiming dozens of lives, including six community protection guards and four vigilantes in Anka Local Government Area on 22 March, and 20 gold miners in Maru Local Government Area on 24 April.
The state’s legislative crisis, marked by factionalism and alleged executive interference, has further compounded governance challenges.
Muhammed criticised Governor Lawal’s apparent acquiescence to the assembly’s controversial actions, calling for “legal and moral scrutiny”.
She stressed that the National Assembly’s intervention was not only lawful but obligatory to preserve constitutional order and address public grievances.
“The key question is not whether the Governor or the Speaker can be summoned, but [what] they have [to say in response to] questions to answer,” she said.