The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to discountenance evidence of the acquittal of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, by the Southwark Crown Court in London.

The anti-graft agency, in a further counter-affidavit filed before Justice Inyang Ekwo, urged the court to dismiss Diezani’s application seeking to present the UK court judgment.

The EFCC argued that the purported acquittal by a foreign criminal court is not material or relevant to the issues for determination before the Nigerian court.

Justice Ekwo had in July granted Diezani’s application to file additional evidence after it was not opposed by EFCC counsel, Mofesomo Oyetibo (SAN).

The UK court had on June 17, 2026 discharged and acquitted the former minister of bribery allegations brought against her in the United Kingdom.

Following the judgment, Diezani, in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/21/2023, sought to reclaim her forfeited assets. She sued the EFCC as sole respondent.

Her lawyer, Godwin Iyinbor, had moved a motion seeking leave to file a further/supplementary affidavit to bring the UK acquittal to the court’s attention, which was granted.

But the EFCC has now opposed it.

In the further counter-affidavit deposed to by Oyakhilome Ekienabor, a litigation officer in Oyetibo’s law firm, and dated October 5, the Commission said some depositions in Diezani’s application are misleading, immaterial and irrelevant.

“The proceedings before the Southwark Crown Court, London, United Kingdom, and the purported acquittal of the applicant therein, are in respect of a proceeding that is not being prosecuted before any Nigerian court and have nothing to do with the substantive suit before this honourable court,” Ekienabor averred.

He argued that there was nothing in the public sale notice indicating that any of the properties listed belong to Diezani, and that the forfeiture order relates exclusively to items of jewelry and does not extend to any other category of assets.

He added that parties are not permitted to expand the scope of a matter before the court, saying Diezani’s further affidavit introduces irrelevant facts and diverts attention from the core issues.

At Tuesday’s proceedings, Diezani’s counsel, Mrs Queen-Ubokutom Uwe, told the court the matter was for hearing of the EFCC’s preliminary objection and the originating motion, but noted that the EFCC had just served them with the further counter-affidavit. She also reminded the court of their motion to regularise processes.

Responding, Paul Mgbeoma, counsel for the EFCC, expressed surprise at the number of processes being filed by Diezani, likening it to an election petition, and said he was ready to proceed.

Justice Ekwo adjourned the matter to November 11 for hearing of the motions.

In the 10-ground argument filed by Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, on behalf of Diezani, the former minister said she is challenging the public notice issued by the EFCC for the auction/sale of properties affecting her proprietary rights.

“A major plank of the applicant’s case before this honourable court is that the respondent had sought to visit the applicant with grave proprietary consequences without conviction, without fair hearing, and without strict compliance with the relevant statutory provisions,” Ozekhome argued.

He said the UK acquittal on June 17, 2026, is material and relevant to issues of absence of conviction, fair hearing, due process and propriety of irreversible deprivation of property.

According to him, Diezani is not asking the court to sit on appeal over the foreign decision or treat it as automatically conclusive, but to place a subsequent material fact before the court to assist it in doing substantial justice, as the fact was not available when earlier processes are filed.

Eight members of the 24-member Zamfara State House of Assembly have resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The lawmakers cited insecurity, injustice and failure to address the wellbeing of the people.

In a joint statement, they said they could no longer remain in a party that had failed to provide adequate security for citizens, particularly in rural communities.

The affected lawmakers are Aliyu Ango Kagara (Talata Mafara South), Ibrahim Tukur Bakura (Bakura), Faruk Musa Dosara (Maradun I), Bashir Abubakar Masama (Bukkuyum North), Muktaru Nasiru Kaura (Kaura North), Nasiru Abdullahi (Maru North), Bashar Bello (Bungudu West) and Bashar Aliyu (Gummi I).

Kagara, an ally of former Governor Abdul’aziz Yari, said their decision followed the state government’s failure to tackle insecurity affecting their constituents.

“What we are challenging Governor Lawal’s administration about is even worse now compared to previous times, so we have seen no reason to continue remaining in the APC. Our constituents in rural areas who voted us into power to address their security concerns were not being given any attention,” he said.

He also alleged that the lawmakers had gone 32 months without salaries, allowances and other entitlements.

“This is our 32 months without salary, allowances and other entitlements as honourable members, and the people of Zamfara; the ball is in their court,” he said.

The lawmakers did not immediately disclose their next political party.

Reacting, APC Publicity Secretary in the State, Ibrahim Danmadamin Birnin Magaji, said the party is yet to receive official notification.

“We are still waiting for their correspondence from their respective political wards after reaching their local government executives, which would later be forwarded to us. We all saw it on social media platforms, but whenever we receive the copies officially, we would communicate with you on our stand,” he said.

The development adds to internal realignments within Zamfara APC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

A source quoted by Daily Trust, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he did not blame the lawmakers, alleging that Governor Dauda Lawal had chosen to work with others instead of reconciling with them.

An intelligence-led operation by a combined team of troops of the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services (DSS) personnel, and Western Nigeria Security Network aka Amotekun officers, at the weekend in Owo forest, Ondo State, eliminated a senior leader of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), Abdussamad Ohida.

Reports quoting security sources said Ohida, aka Anwar, who was on the verge of planning massive terrorist attacks in some southern states, was killed alongside many members of the terrorist organisation by the security forces who led a surprise attack on their forest hideout.

According to the sources, the eliminated ISWAP leader previously served as deputy to ISWAP Central Nigeria leader Abu Ikrimah, also known as Abu Uwais. Ikrimah was arrested by the DSS in 2023.

Following Ikrimah’s arrest, continued the sources, Ohida assumed leadership of ISWAP activities across parts of North Central and southern parts of the country, where he subsequently played a key role in the planning, coordination and execution of terrorist operations.

Through the interrogation of Abu Uwais, continued the sources, the DSS was able to gather credible intelligence on plans by Ohida to attack innocent persons during the forthcoming Yuletide.

“The plan was to attack civilians during the festive period and ultimately disrupt the 2027 general elections. This Intelligence was corroborated by intelligence partners from the United Kingdom, who supported the elimination operation,” offered one of the sources.

He said Ohida planned and executed the December 31, 2025, invasion of Ipele Divisional Police Station, Owo, Ondo State, carting away right AK-47 rifles before bringing down the station with an explosive. He mentioned the 28 July 2022 Suleja–Zuba Road, Niger State military checkpoint attack in which several soldiers, officers and civilians were killed.

He also blamed Ohida for the July 11, 2022, attack on Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja; the 23rd April, 2022 attack on Ogaminana Police Station, Adavi LGA, Kogi State, which resulted in the death of five police officers, and the February 7, 2022, attack on Okene Area Command police station.

“The terrorist planned and executed the 24th December, 2020 attack on a Naval checkpoint in Okene, Kogi State, which resulted in the death of two naval officers, not to mention the several attacks he launched across parts of the country,” he added.

“We may not immediately realize it, but the elimination of Abdussamad Ohida represents a significant disruption to ISWAP’s leadership structure, operational network and expansion efforts in central and southern Nigeria.

“Ohida’s elimination, coming a few months after the killing of ISIS leader Abu Bilal al-Minuki, is a very big blow to ISWAP’s efforts to expand its operational presence in Nigeria, and underscores the growing efficiency of our security services,” he declared.