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The Delta State House of Assembly says the decision to declare the seat of the member representing Udu Constituency vacant was taken in line with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Information and House Leader, Hon. Emeka Nwaobi, gave the explanation in Asaba.

Nwaobi said the Assembly acted strictly within its constitutional powers and not for political reasons.

He said, “The House merely carried out its constitutional responsibility after considering the resignation and defection letter submitted by the lawmaker representing Udu Constituency.”

The assembly spokesman explained that the Constitution clearly states the conditions under which a lawmaker can defect from the political party on whose platform he or she was elected without losing the seat.

According to him, the only condition is where there is a division or crisis within the political party at the national level.

He said there was no evidence before the Assembly to show that the lawmaker’s defection met that constitutional requirement.

Nwaobi said, “The Delta State House of Assembly is guided solely by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Every action taken by the House is rooted in the law, and nothing is done outside the provisions of the Constitution.”

He added that the Assembly’s resolution should not be seen as a political vendetta but as a faithful implementation of the Constitution.

The House leader reaffirmed the commitment of the Assembly to the rule of law, constitutional democracy and legislative integrity.

He urged members of the public to study the relevant provisions of the Constitution before drawing conclusions on the Assembly’s decision.

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The Federal High Court in Kaduna on Wednesday failed to sit after the presiding judge reportedly fell ill, stalling the ruling on the bail applications filed by former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and his co-defendant, Jimi Lawal.

The case was that of an alleged corruption case instituted by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission against the defendants.

Justice Hauwa’u Buhari had fixed Wednesday, July 1, 2026, for the ruling after hearing arguments from counsel for the prosecution and the defence.

However, proceedings could not go on as scheduled.

A court source who confirmed the development to The PUNCH said, “They said the judge is sick.”

A fresh date for the ruling is expected to be communicated to parties in the case.

The development came barely two days after the Kaduna State High Court declined a separate bail application filed by El-Rufai in another ICPC prosecution.

On Monday, Justice Diruis Khobo dismissed the former governor’s bail application, holding that it lacked merit.

The judge ruled that the defendant failed to place sufficient and convincing materials before the court to justify the exercise of its discretion in his favour.

Justice Khobo held that El-Rufai did not present reliable evidence or credible documents capable of warranting his release on bail.

Although the court refused the application, it directed the ICPC to grant the former governor unhindered access to his medical team or any medical facility of his choice within Nigeria for appropriate medical attention.

The court also ordered that El-Rufai remain in the custody of the anti-graft agency pending the determination of the case and adjourned the trial until July 7 and 8, 2026.

At the Federal High Court, El-Rufai is standing trial alongside his former Special Adviser, Jimi Lawal, and five corporate entities on an amended 11-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office, financial impropriety and money laundering.

El-Rufai pleaded not guilty to count one, while Lawal pleaded not guilty to counts six, seven and eight.

One of the companies, Singularity Network Security Limited, pleaded not guilty to counts two, three, four, five, nine, ten and eleven.

The ICPC alleged that investigations uncovered irregularities in the handling of government funds and the award of contracts during El-Rufai’s administration, resulting in the alleged diversion and misapplication of public resources.

The former governor has consistently denied all allegations, insisting that every action taken during his eight-year administration was lawful and in the public interest.

The Federal High Court case had earlier been adjourned after the absence of two co-defendants at a previous sitting.

The PUNCH recalls that on April 14, 2026, Justice Rilwan Aikawa granted El-Rufai bail in the sum of N200m with two sureties, one of whom must be a serving or retired civil servant on Grade Level 15, while the other must be a recognised traditional ruler.

The court subsequently declined the former governor’s application seeking a variation of the bail conditions.

In the separate Kaduna State High Court case, El-Rufai is facing a nine-count charge bordering on alleged abuse of office said to have been committed during his tenure as governor between 2015 and 2023.

The ICPC accused him of violating public procurement and financial management procedures in the execution of some government contracts.

El-Rufai has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

While his legal team described the prosecution as politically motivated and lacking merit, the anti-graft agency maintained that it had assembled sufficient documentary and witness evidence to prove its case.

The twin prosecutions have continued to attract widespread public attention due to El-Rufai’s prominence in national politics and his eight-year tenure as governor of Kaduna State.

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The Police Service Commission (PSC) has approved the promotion of 93 senior police officers to higher ranks following their successful participation in the recently concluded written examination and oral interview conducted at the Commission’s Corporate Headquarters in Abuja.

The promotions were approved during the Commission’s plenary meeting held on Wednesday at its headquarters in Abuja.

PSC spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, disclosed the development in a statement, noting that the promotions formed part of key decisions reached at the meeting.

According to the statement, 13 Commissioners of Police (CPs) were elevated to the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG).

The promoted officers are Itam Nnaghe Obono, CP, Counter Terrorism Unit; Bassey Samuel Ewah, CP, Plateau State Command; Osagie John Agans-Irabor, CP, FCID Lagos; Monday Agbonika, CP, Edo State Command; Iyamah Daniel Adebor, CP, Bayelsa State Command; Isa Danladi Nda, CP, Abia State Command; Akaninyene Ezima, Director, NPF-NCCC; Livingstein Ikioye Orutugu, CP, Anambra State Command; Afegbua B. Rashid, CP, Cross River State Command; Edozie Hycenth Azuka, CP, AML/CFT, FCID; Haruna Alaba Yahaya, CP, Jigawa State Command; Emenari Ifeanyi Innocent, CP, Benue State Command; and Betty Enekpen Otimenyin, CP, Welfare.

The Commission also promoted 17 Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) to the rank of Commissioner of Police.

The newly promoted Commissioners of Police include Nelson Nwamanna, DC CID Zone 11; Bolanle A. Murtala, DC Operations, Ogun State; Danbaba Mohammed Labbo, DC Litigation; Ajayi Oluyemi, DC CID Zone 7; Oki Rita Oyintare, DC Gender; Ibrahim Umar Zungura, DC FCID Abuja; Iya Umar Mohammed, DC X-Squad, FCID Lagos; Darma Nuhu Na’Aliyu, DC CID Sokoto; Nuruddeen A. Sabo, DC Operations, Kaduna State; Tijjani Murtala, DC Operations, Jigawa State; Yakubu Mohammed, DC DFA Benue State; Ibrahim Lukunche Usman, DC Operations Zone 15; Akingbade C. Adeyinka, DC CID Ondo State; Mohammed Hassan Ahmed, DC Operations Bauchi State; Samuel Erale Ahmed, DC Community Safety; Adedeji Taiwo, DC ZCID Zone 1, Kano; and Zainab A. Pembi of the Force Intelligence Department (FID).

In the same exercise, 28 Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) were promoted to the rank of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP).

Among them are Ofili Felix, AC Procurement; Mohammed Baba-Mala, AC CSP DOPS, Force Headquarters; Deborah O. Benary, AC CID Ogun State; Mohammed Sani Musa, AC CID Maritime; Lot Garba Lantoh, Commanding Officer, 22 Police Mobile Force, Lagos; Ijeoma Princewill Onyema, AC Administration, Zone 6, Calabar; Oyedepo Olubisi, AC CID Enugu State; Amanyi Christopher, AC JTF Operations, Delta Safe, Bayelsa; and Regina Mbanefo, AC Zone 13, Anambra.

The PSC also approved the promotion of 33 Chief Superintendents of Police (CSPs) to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP).

Those promoted include Mustapha Lawal, Second-in-Command, Area Command, Gumel; Gafar Ajayi Adeyanju; and CSP Nnamdi Lotanna Anabike, Divisional Police Officer, Central Police Station, Onitsha, among others.

In addition, the Commission confirmed the appointments of 162 Assistant Superintendents of Police II (ASP II) to the substantive rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police I (ASP I).

Chairman of the Commission, retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police Hashimu Salihu Argungu, congratulated the promoted officers and urged them to uphold professionalism, transparency and accountability in the discharge of their duties.

He also advised them to avoid involvement in civil matters, particularly land disputes, and to conduct themselves in a manner that would preserve their integrity and reputation.

“Guide your reputation and integrity. Let your actions speak for you and not against you,” Argungu said.