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…..declares the Court of Appeal did not nullify the constitutionality or legality of the Caretaker Committe

By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has demanded for stiff sanctions against deliberate misrepresentation of court judgements insisting it’s time to wield the big stick.

This was contained in a statement issued and signed by Hon. Jungudo Haruna Mohammed
National Publicity Secretary stating that

The major opposition in Nigeria in the statement said, “is deeply disturbed by the persistent and deliberate distortion of judicial pronouncements by a group of individuals falsely parading themselves as the Interim National Working Committee of the Party.

” The latest instance is contained in a press statement issued by one Comrade Ini Ememobong, a legal practitioner, on June 3, 2026, on behalf of the said group. Of particular concern are paragraphs three and four of the statement, which contain claims, conclusions, and interpretations that are not only misleading but are entirely inconsistent with the clear, unambiguous, and unequivocal contents of the judgment of the Court of Appeal.

” The Party considers this development a dangerous assault on the integrity of the judiciary and the administration of justice. It is particularly disturbing that individuals who are members of the legal profession, including a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, would engage in the distortion and misrepresentation of a clear judicial pronouncement for partisan political purposes.

“The PDP states unequivocally that the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the ruling of the Court of Appeal delivered by Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, and certified on Friday, June 5, 2026, speaks for itself and leaves no room for the false narratives currently being circulated across the media and social media platforms.

The publicity scribe further stressed that: “It is therefore shocking that legal practitioners would seek to attribute statements, conclusions, and declarations to the Court that are completely absent from the judgment itself.

” Such conduct amounts to an attempt to mislead the public, create confusion, and undermine confidence in the judicial process. This constitutes contempt of court and must be treated as such.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Court of Appeal did not nullify the constitutionality or legality of the Caretaker Committee of the Party from which the present National Working Committee emerged. Rather, the Court dismissed the appeal on the grounds that it constituted an academic exercise and an attempt to relitigate issues that had already been conclusively determined by both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Consequently, the judgment of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, delivered on January 30, 2026, remains valid, subsisting, binding, and fully enforceable.

” The Party wishes to place on record that at no point from the first page to the last page of the ruling did the Court of Appeal make any pronouncement concerning Mr. A. K. Ajibade, SAN, or Senator Samuel N. Anyanwu, as falsely claimed by those promoting misleading interpretations of the judgment.

“Any attempt to suggest otherwise amounts to a deliberate distortion of the clear and unambiguous decision of the Court. Such conduct is considered misleading, irresponsible, and calculated to deceive the public, undermine confidence in the judiciary, create confusion, and heighten political tension.

“Even more disturbing is the circulation on social media of purported excerpts of the Court of Appeal ruling, with portions highlighted in green ink and presented as part of the Court’s decision.

” A careful examination of the authentic Certified True Copy of the ruling reveals that several of the highlighted portions being circulated neither emanated from nor formed part of the judgment delivered by the Court.

“The Party considers this development extremely serious and calls on the relevant security and regulatory authorities to immediately investigate the source and purpose of such materials and take appropriate action in accordance with the law.

“The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) and the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) are urged to rise to the occasion by investigating the conduct of legal practitioners who deliberately misrepresent court judgments and use their professional standing to promote falsehoods capable of bringing the legal profession into disrepute.

“The Party further reminds all media organizations of their responsibility to uphold the highest standards of professionalism. Media houses are urged to seek proper legal guidance and verify the contents of court judgments before disseminating interpretations that may mislead the public or inflame political tensions.

” The judiciary remains the last hope of the common man. Its decisions must be respected, faithfully represented, and protected from manipulation by individuals seeking political advantage. The deliberate misrepresentation of court judgments constitutes a grave threat to the rule of law and the credibility of democratic institutions.

“The PDP therefore calls for immediate action against all persons found to have knowingly distorted the judgment of the Court. Failure to act decisively will only embolden those who seek to weaponize misinformation against the judiciary and weaken public confidence in the administration of justice.

“Politics should never descend to the level where judicial pronouncements are fraudulently twisted, manipulated, and misrepresented to serve narrow partisan interests. This is politics taken too far.

“The sanctity of the judiciary must be protected. The truth must prevail, and those who seek to undermine the authority of the courts through deliberate misrepresentation must be held accountable in accordance with the law.

“The relevant security and regulatory agencies are further urged to urgently investigate these developments and take all necessary actions within the ambit of the law. No individual, regardless of status or professional standing, should be permitted to misrepresent the decisions of a court of competent jurisdiction without consequence.

“Finally, the PDP urges members of the public, media organizations, party members, and stakeholders to disregard in its entirety the false and misleading narratives suggesting that the Court of Appeal has invalidated the present National Working Committee of the Party.

” The Party further appeals for continued support for the leadership of Hon. Abdulrahman Mohammed and Senator Samuel N. Anyanwu in their commitment to providing a viable and credible alternative political direction for Nigeria.

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Veteran forward Aishat Oshoala and Everton star Toni Payne were on the scoresheet as Nigeria defeated Senegal 2-1 in a friendly match on Friday as the Super Falcons continue preparations for the defence of their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) crown.

Solid first-half performance from the Super Falcons saw Nigeria take a two-goal cushion.

Payne gave Nigeria the lead in the 32nd minute of the clash, firing into the net from a nicely teed-up ball from right-back Shukurat Oladipo.

The Super Falcons then made it two at the Remo Stars Sports Complex, Ikenne, Ogun State, thanks to a spot kick from Oshoala.

Préparation #WAFCON2026 | Le Sénégal s’incline sur le score de 2 buts à 1 face au Nigeria pour son premier match amical de la semaine. Rendez-vous ce lundi 8 juin pour le remake entre les deux sélections. #NGASEN #FriendlyGame

Skipper Rasheedat Ajibade was close to adding to the tally before the break but saw her effort served by the Senegalese goalkeeper Khadi Faye.

As expected, the African champions continued to enjoy the lion’s share of possession upon resumption of the game.

They could have scored more as the match wore on.

However, the visitors responded late into the game. The Teranga Lionesses scored a consolation goal in the 87th minute from a Sokhna Pene long-range effort to reduce the deficit. Despite a brief spell of pressure from Senegal, Justin Madugu’s ladies held on to get the win.

FT in Ikenne
Nigeria 2-1 Senegal

Goals from Asisat Oshoala and Toni Payne get us the W.#SoarSuperFalcons

NGSuper_Falcons (@NGSuper_Falcons) June 5, 2026

Nigeria and Senegal will battle it out again at the same venue on Monday as they intensify preparations for the 2026 WAFCON billed for between July and August.

The Super Falcons are 10-time winners of the WAFCON.

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By Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, has fixed June 9, 2026, to rule on the bail application of self-styled relationship therapist Blessing Nkiruka Okoro, popularly known as Blessing CEO, who is standing trial over an alleged ₦36 million property fraud.

Justice Deinde Dipeolu fixed the date after hearing submissions from counsel in the matter.

Counsel to the defendant, P.I. Nwafuru, informed the court that the bail application, dated May 15, 2026, was supported by a six-paragraph affidavit and five exhibits.

He urged the court to exercise its discretion and grant the defendant bail on liberal terms.

However, counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Suleiman Suleiman, opposed the application. He told the court that the Commission had filed a 28-paragraph counter-affidavit dated May 29, 2026, deposed to by its investigating officer, Bufa Regina Okangbe.

“We rely on all the depositions contained therein and the exhibits attached.

“At some point during the course of the investigation, the defendant stopped honouring invitations extended to her by the Commission.

“We urge Your Lordship not to accede to the request of the defence and instead order an accelerated hearing of the matter,” Suleiman submitted.

After hearing arguments from both parties, Justice Dipeolu reserved ruling on the bail application until June 9, 2026.

Earlier, the prosecution called its first witness, EFCC investigator Bufa Regina Okangbe, who narrated how a trail of bank transactions, property records, and witness statements allegedly revealed that the defendant received ₦36 million from the petitioner for a property she did not own.

According to Okangbe, the Commission received a petition that was assigned to her team for investigation. She said a Bank Verification Number (BVN) search conducted on the defendant revealed several bank accounts linked to her.

“Following this, letters of investigation were sent to the banks, while another letter was forwarded to the Lagos State Land Bureau to determine whether the property belonged to the defendant.

According to her, ₦25 million was transferred into the defendant’s GTBank account, while an additional ₦11 million was paid into her Access Bank account for the lease of a property located at No. 1B Tunbosun Osobu Street, Lekki, Lagos.

She further testified that an analysis of the defendant’s bank accounts revealed subsequent transfers, including ₦8 million to Mr and Mrs Osobu, ₦1.9 million to Beauty City by Lekki, ₦11 million to Lina Uzoma Okoro, the defendant’s mother, and ₦15 million to Kenneth Emeka Onuora.

Under cross-examination, the witness stated that the Federal Republic of Nigeria, being the complainant in the criminal proceedings, was not privy to any settlement arrangement allegedly entered into between the defendant and the petitioner.

She also told the court that she was unaware of any attempt by the defendant to refund ₦24 million to the petitioner, as claimed by the defence.

According to the witness, the petitioner had already commenced renovation work on the property before its owner, Tunbosun Osobu, allegedly appeared and ejected them from the premises.

Justice Dipeolu subsequently adjourned the matter until June 22, 2026, for the continuation of the trial.

The EFCC is prosecuting Okoro on a two-count charge bordering on obtaining money by false pretence and stealing.

One of the counts reads: “That you, OKORO BLESSING NKIRUKA, between July 14 and 17, 2024, in Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did obtain the sum of N36,000,000.00 (Thirty-six Million Naira) from Mrs Ifeyinwa Nonye Okoye under the false pretence of leasing a six-bedroom detached duplex situated at No. 1B, Tunbosun Osobu Street, Off Kuboye Road, Lekki, Lagos State, which representation you knew to be false, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.”