By Omoniyi David

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed January 23, 2026, to hear an application for stay of proceedings filed by the Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a suit instituted by a rival group aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned the matter to allow counsel to the plaintiffs, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), respond to the application.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2501/2025, was filed by the Wike-aligned faction, including acting National Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman, and Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who is claiming the position of National Secretary. The plaintiffs are seeking to restrain the Turaki-led leadership from parading themselves as PDP officials and to bar security agencies from granting them access to the party’s national secretariat at Wadata Plaza, Abuja.
They also asked the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising any address submitted by the Turaki-led faction as the PDP’s official address and urged the court to direct INEC and security agencies to enforce earlier court judgments on the matter.
Justice Abdulmalik had earlier ordered parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the suit. The Turaki-led faction, dissatisfied with the ruling, has approached the Court of Appeal and also filed motions seeking a stay of proceedings and the judge’s recusal over alleged bias.

By Onyeanya Ebere Immaculata

A Federal High Court in Abuja has granted former Attorney General of the Federation, Abdulaziz Malami, his wife and son bail in the sum of ₦500 million each.
Justice Emeka Nwite ordered that each defendant provide two sureties in like sum, with landed property in Asokoro, Maitama or Gwarinpa. The court also directed that all travel documents be deposited and barred the defendants from travelling outside Nigeria without approval.
The judge ordered verification of the sureties’ documents and affidavits of means, as well as the submission of passport photographs. Malami was, however, remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.
The court fixed February 17 for the commencement of trial.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting Malami, his wife and son on a 16-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering involving about ₦9 billion.

By Adenike Lawal

Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has declared that he remains the country’s legitimate president as he appeared before a federal court in New York following his arrest by United States forces.
Maduro, 63, pleaded not guilty on Monday to drug trafficking and related charges during his first court appearance in Manhattan. Speaking through an interpreter, he insisted he was innocent and said he had been unlawfully taken from Venezuela.
“I am the president of the Republic of Venezuela, and I was kidnapped from Caracas,” Maduro told the court, claiming his arrest violated the country’s sovereignty.
His wife, Cilia Flores, also pleaded not guilty. The court ordered both to remain in custody and fixed March 17 for their next hearing.
Maduro’s arrest followed a surprise US military operation in Caracas that reportedly involved airstrikes and a heavy security presence. The operation sparked protests by his supporters, while his former deputy, Delcy Rodríguez, was sworn in as interim president.
US President Donald Trump later declared that Washington was now “in charge” in Venezuela and signaled plans to assert control over the country’s oil sector, dismissing calls for immediate elections.
Maduro, who assumed power in 2013 after the death of Hugo Chávez, has long been accused by the US and European Union of rigging elections and jailing opponents, allegations his government has denied.
The unfolding developments have plunged Venezuela into renewed uncertainty as legal proceedings against Maduro continue in the United States.