Headlines
Court Overrules Request to Transfer Maina’s Case to Another Judge
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday overruled Abdulrasheed Maina’s request to have his trial transferred to another judge of the court.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on October 25 arraigned the former chairman of the defunct Pension Reform Task Team and Common Input Property and Investment Limited before Justice Okon Abang on 12 counts bordering on money laundering and fraud.
Speaking through his lawyer, Joe Gadzama (SAN), at the commencement of trial on Wednesday, Maina said he wanted his case withdrawn from Justice Abang over a remark made by the judge on the day of his arraignment.
Maina was referring to Justice Abang’s instructions to a registrar of the court to caution the defendant from staring at him while about preparing to write a ruling on his bail application.
In his ruling which he later delivered, the judge ordered that Maina be remanded in custody and adjourned till Wednesday for commencement of trial.
At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, Maina indicated his intention to speak from the dock, but the judge said he should allow his lawyer to speak for him.
After a short hushed conversation between Maina and Gadzama, the lawyer said to the judge, “The 1st defendant told me that I should tell the court that on October 25, this month he was before the court and while the proceedings were going on, the judge asked him not to look at him.
“And he wondered why he should not look at him since he was not the only one that appeared before the court that day.”
Gadzama said his client blood pressure had risen because he felt he had been convicted going by the judge’s remark.
The lawyer said his client thereby requested that his case be re-assigned to another judge in whom he could have confidence.
The judge said his remark referred to by the defendant was nothing more than a piece of advice.
He added, “There was a day a witness was about entering the court dock and he started adjusting his trousers. He looked at me and adjusted his trousers.
“I told him ‘don’t adjust your trousers; don’t touch your trousers again because I don’t know what is inside the trousers’. So I merely advised the defendant not to look at the court.”
Gadzama then pleaded with Justice Abang to adjourn the case to enable him to have a better grasp of the case because he was only briefed by the defendant on Tuesday night.
But the judge overruled the request for adjournment and ordered the prosecution led by Mohammed Abubakar to call the first witness.
The prosecution went ahead to call Mairo Mohammed, a banker, as their first witness.
Mohammed said he opened naira and dollar accounts for Maina.
The trial was adjourned till November 5.
The Punch
Former governor of Anambra State, presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 election, Mr. Peter Obi, has officially defected to the coalition-backed African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Obi announced the decision on Tuesday at an event held at the Nike Lake Resort, Enugu.
“We are ending this year with the hope that in 2026 we will begin a rescue journey,” Obi said.
The National Chairman of the ADC, David Mark, was among the attendees.
United States Representative Riley Moors has said further military strikes against Islamic State-linked militants in Nigeria could follow recent operations ordered by President Donald Trump, describing the actions as aimed at improving security and protecting Christian communities facing violence.
Moore made the remarks during a televised interview in which he addressed U.S. military strikes carried out on Christmas Day against militant targets in North-west Nigeria.
The strikes were conducted in coordination with the Nigerian government, according to U.S. and Nigerian officials.
“President Trump is not trying to bring war to Nigeria, he’s bringing peace and security to Nigeria and to the thousands of Christians who face horrific violence and death,” Moore said.
He said the Christmas Day strikes against Islamic State affiliates had provided hope to Christians in Nigeria, particularly in areas affected by repeated attacks during past festive periods.
According to U.S. authorities, the strikes targeted camps used by Islamic State-linked groups operating in parts of north-west Nigeria.
Nigerian officials confirmed that the operation was carried out with intelligence support from Nigerian security agencies as part of ongoing counter-terrorism cooperation between both countries.
The United States Africa Command said the operation was intended to degrade the operational capacity of extremist groups responsible for attacks on civilians and security forces.
Nigerian authorities have described the targeted groups as a threat to national security, noting their involvement in killings, kidnappings and raids on rural communities.
Moore said the strikes marked a shift from previous years in which attacks were carried out against civilians during the Christmas period. He said the U.S. administration was focused on preventing further violence by targeting militant groups before they could launch attacks.
U.S. officials have said the military action was carried out with the consent of the Nigerian government and formed part of broader security cooperation between the two countries. Nigeria has received intelligence, training and logistical support from international partners as it seeks to contain militant activity.
Moore had previously called for stronger international attention to attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria and has urged continued U.S. engagement in addressing extremist violence. He said further action would depend on developments on the ground and continued coordination with Nigerian authorities.
Nigerian officials have maintained that counter-terrorism operations are directed at armed groups threatening civilians, regardless of religion, and have reiterated their commitment to restoring security across affected regions.
World-renowned boxer Anthony Joshua on Monday survived a ghastly road accident in Makun, Ogun State.
Eyewitnesses report that the incident occurred along a busy highway of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
The vehicle carrying Joshua, a Lexus Jeep with the number plate, KRD 850 HN, reportedly collided with a stationary truck under circumstances that are still being investigated.
Joshua reportedly sustained minor injuries, while two persons were said to have died on the spot.
