The senator representing Sokoto East Senatorial District, Ibrahim Lamido, has declared his intention to leave the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), attributing the move to the worsening security crisis affecting his constituency.

Lamido disclosed this while speaking with journalists in Sokoto on Friday, expressing deep concern over the continued banditry attacks that had plagued several communities in the district.

According to the lawmaker, the persistent violence and insecurity in Sokoto East had made it difficult for him to remain in the party, noting that the realities faced by residents no longer aligned with the expectations and assurances given to them.

He described the security situation in the area as alarming, explaining that many villages had been attacked by armed groups, forcing residents to abandon their homes and seek safety elsewhere.

Lamido added that the ongoing attacks had severely disrupted economic activities, particularly farming, which serves as the main source of livelihood for many families in the region.

“My people are enduring untold hardship. Bandits have destroyed entire communities, and I cannot remain in a system that has failed to demonstrate sufficient commitment to resolving this crisis,” Lamido stated.

According to the Sokoto senator, “the decision followed extensive consultations with traditional leaders, political stakeholders, and supporters across the senatorial district.”

He explained that the discussions made it clear that many people believed a change in political direction was necessary under the current circumstances.

Lamido also revealed that he had repeatedly drawn attention to the deteriorating security conditions at the federal level but expressed disappointment that his concerns did not receive the level of response required.

He maintained that his decision was guided by the need to stand firmly with his constituents rather than by any personal political ambition.

The senator further urged the federal government to intensify its efforts in tackling banditry across the North-West, warning that continued attacks could worsen the humanitarian challenges already confronting affected communities.

Sokoto East, which includes local government areas such as Sabon Birni, Isa and Rabah, has in recent months recorded frequent attacks linked to banditry, resulting in deaths, kidnappings and massive destruction of property.

A Federal High Court sitting in Lafia, Nasarawa State, has ordered the final forfeiture of multiple properties and cash to the Federal Government following an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Delivering judgement, Justice M.O. Olajuwon held that the anti-graft agency provided sufficient evidence to establish that the assets were proceeds of unlawful activities allegedly linked to one Theophilus Oloche Ebonyi.

The forfeited assets include a 23-room hotel and event centre, De Thinkers Home and Apartments, located in Nyanya Gwandara; a warehouse and sachet water factory in Koroduma, Karu Local Government Area; two office buildings along Philip Doda Street in the same area; and Theo International Academy Primary School, also in Nyanya Gwandara.

Additionally, the court ordered the forfeiture of N1,005,489.27 found in a First Bank account linked to the respondent.

Justice Olajuwon ruled that the EFCC met the legal threshold under Section 17(1) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act.

“The Commission has placed sufficient materials before the court to prove that the assets are proceeds of unlawful activity,” the judge stated.

He further noted that once the EFCC established reasonable suspicion, the burden shifted to the respondents to justify the legitimacy of the assets.

“The respondents failed to discharge the burden placed on them to show cause why the properties should not be permanently forfeited,” he added.

Earlier, the EFCC, through an affidavit deposed by its investigator, Mary Ebute, told the court that a Keystone Bank account belonging to Theobarth Global Foundation served as the primary channel through which funds were collected from victims.

The Commission alleged that the account was used to operate a Ponzi scheme and launder proceeds through the acquisition of the forfeited assets.

EFCC counsel, Ibrahim Buba, argued that the properties were directly traceable to fraudulent activities, urging the court to grant final forfeiture in favour of the Federal Government.

The court subsequently granted the application, transferring ownership of the assets to the government.

The Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to reconsider recent actions, warning they could threaten the 2027 general elections.

ACF National Publicity Secretary, T. A. Muhammad-Baba, spoke to Leadership newspaper on the state of the nation, expressing concern over what he described as troubling developments in the country’s electoral process.

He cited INEC’s removal of the leadership of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, led by David Mark, as well as the proposed voter revalidation exercise, as actions capable of undermining democratic stability.

Muhammad-Baba said such measures could erode public confidence in the electoral system, noting that they risk creating uncertainty ahead of the next general elections.

He further warned that Nigeria is already grappling with worsening insecurity and economic challenges, stressing that introducing political tension at this time could aggravate the situation.

“It looks like every step taken by INEC or the political authorities is putting the 2027 election into jeopardy. It is not too late, and we hope we call on the government, we call on INEC, we call on all those concerned to retrace their steps and stand by the principles and the tenets of democracy.

“Otherwise, all these things really portend a crisis, and it is not good for the country. We have enough. We have enough problems with insecurity. We have enough problems with economic hardships,” Muhammad-Baba said.

According to him, stakeholders must adhere strictly to democratic principles to avoid plunging the country into a fresh political crisis.

The ACF spokesman called on the federal government, INEC and other relevant actors to retrace their steps and ensure that all actions taken strengthen, rather than weaken, the nation’s democracy.

Osun State chapter of the Accord has once again criticised the All Progressives Congress, APC, over the alleged the use of proceeds of crime to support security agencies in the state.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the state chairman of the Accord, Victor Babalola Akande, said the development was disturbing and disgraceful.

Akande accused the APC of promoting illegality under the guise of security support.

The accusation is coming after the Osun APC in a statement on Thursday also criticised Governor Ademola Adeleke and the ruling Accord over alleged politicisation of security matters in the state.

The party in the statement signed by Kola Olabisi, its Director of Media and Information, said the protection of lives and property should remain the foremost responsibility of all tiers of government.

The statement faulted recent remarks by the Accord criticising local government efforts to support security agencies.

According to the APC, the condemnation of local council chairmen for donating operational vehicles to the police was “uncalled for, frivolous and ill-motivated.”

Meanwhile, Akande in the counter statement stated that “empowering the police with proceeds of crime is not patriotism, it is criminality dressed in borrowed robes.”

Insisting that such actions violate both legal and moral standards, he also alleged that individuals presented by the APC as elected council officials lacked the legal standing to manage public resources or initiate programmes tied to security.

According to him, “what the APC describes as assistance to security agencies represents a dangerous precedent where questionable authority meets questionable funding.”

The Accord chairman also criticised the APC’s record in governance, claiming the party had previously demonstrated disregard for due process and administrative accountability.

He warned that matters relating to security should not be politicised, adding that ignoring due process could undermine public safety rather than strengthen it.

“The police, as a respected national institution, must not be dragged into the murky waters of partisan illegitimacy. I urge caution in dealings involving law enforcement agencies.

“The Accord reiterated its rejection of what it termed a shameful narrative. Governance must adhere strictly to legal and procedural standards.

“Residents of Osun State deserved responsible leadership and attempts to legitimise alleged illegal actions could erode public trust and threaten order,” he warned.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has explained to the Federal High Court in Abuja why the 57 properties linked to a former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, should be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

The EFCC, in a motion on notice for final forfeiture of the properties filed by its team of lawyers led by Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, and Ekele Iheanacho, SAN, told Justice Joyce Abdulmalik that Malami had failed to place sufficient evidence of genuine ownership before the court to warrant the court to vacate the earlier interim order granted on the properties,

The motion, marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/20/2026, named Malami, his son, Abdulaziz Abubakar Malami, his wife, Hajia Bashir Asabe and Abiru’ Rahman Abubakar Malami as 1st to 4th respondents.

Others are Rayhaan Bustan and Agro Allied Ltd, Mountain View Gold and Jewellery Ltd, Amasdul Oil and Gas Ltd, Azbir Arena Nigeria Ltd, Meethaq Hotels Ltd as 5th to 9th respondents.

They also include Rayhaan University Ltd/GTE, Rayhaan Hotels Ltd, Zeenoor Hotels Ltd, Kawsar Ben of Brahim, Alhaji Muktaka Usman Junju, Real Edge Agro Services Ltd as 10th to 15th respondents respectively.

The application was brought pursuant to Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, No. 14 of 2006.

The anti-graft agency sought a ‘final order of the court forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria, the properties described in the schedule below, which were found by the commission as properties reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.”

Giving six grounds why the application should be granted, Okutepa submitted that the court has the statutory powers under the provisions of Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud-Related Offences Act, 2006, to grant the reliefs being sought.

The lawyer said it is a non-conviction-based asset forfeiture proceeding.

According to him, the properties sought to be attached and forfeited are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawtul activitics.

“This honourable court made an interim order forfeiting the properties to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“The order of the honourable court has been published in a national daily, namely THISDAY Newspaper of 9th January, 2026.

“No sufficient cause has been shown why the properties under the interim forfeiture order should not be finally forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria,” Okutepa argued.

In an affidavit in support of the motion, Daniel Adebayo, an investigating officer with the Special Duties Committee of the EFCC, said he had the consent of the commission’s chairman to depose to the affidavit and from facts gathered in the course of the investigation.

He said the commission received several petitions against the former minister from different organisations alleging a serious case of corruption, abuse of office and fraud.

He said upon receipt of the series of petitions, his team carried out several investigation activities which included making inquiries and receiving financial records from commercial banks and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

He said the team wrote and received response from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), the Federal Inland revenue Services (FIRS), the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) and the Abuja Geographical Information System (AGIS).

He said it also include the Land Registry of Kebbi State, Sokoto State and Kano State, Kebbi State Inland Revenue Service, FCT Inland Revenue Services, National Universities Commission (NUC), visiting the sold landed properties and valuation of the assets.

The officer said the team invited and interviewed individuals who featured in the investigation.

He listed Malami’s lawful sources of income while he served as Minister between 2015 and 2023, including salaries, allowances, estacodes, which total sums were not proportionate to the alleged properties he illegally acquired.

“I know as a fact and verily believe the findings of the investigation, which are as follows:

“Mr. Abubakar Malami, SAN, was the Hon. Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, hereinafter referred to as HAGF, from 2015 to 2023.

“He was paid a total of N89, 664, 000.00 as salary between 2015 and 2023, whilst in office, with an average payment of N962,663.68 per month.

“He also received a severance allowance of N12, 158, 400.00 at the end of his tenure in office.

“Mr. Malami SAN was also paid estacodes allowances to cover his travel expenses whenever he travelled outside the country on official trips.

“He calculated and declared a total sum of N253, 608, 500.00 as the amount he received for the official trips between 2015 and 2023 in a letter written to the Chairman of the CCB as an addendum to his Assets Declaration Form in June 2023.

“Attached and collectively marked as Exhibit EFCC 2 & 3 are copies of the asset declaration forms filled out by Mr. Malami SAN from 2015 to 2023, together with a letter dated 16th of June, 2023 written by him to the Chairman of the CCB as addendum to the assets declaration form as found at his house during EFCC’s execution of search warrant.”

He said “aside the actual acquisition of the properties which are manifestly disproportionate to Mr. Malami SAN‘s known and lawful sources of income, no building permits/approvals from appropriate authorities were obtained to erect most of the various structures in Kano and Kebbi States as part of a scheme to disguise unlawful origin of the funds used to acquire the assets.”

Adebayo alleged that Malami indirectly acquired some of the assets either in his name or through third-party individuals or front companies/entities (which are currently under his chairmanship vide the Rayhaan Group Ltd).

The EFCC listed the 57 multi-billion naira landed properties located in Abuja, Kebbi, Kano and Kaduna States, including temporary and permanent sites of Rayhaan University in Kebbi.

Justice Abdulmalik has however fixed April 21 for the hearing of the commission’s motion.

A sister court, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, had, on January. 6, ordered the interim forfeiture of the 57 properties suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities to the Federal Government.

The judge made the order following an ex-parte motion moved by the EFCC’s lawyer, Iheanacho.

The judge had directed the commission to publish the order in a national daily for interested person(s) to show cause, within 14 days, why all the properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

The case was, however, reassigned to Justice Obiora Egwuatu after the vacation ended but Egwuatu recused himself from the matter, citing personal reasons and in the interest of justice, before it was reassigned to Abdulmalik.

Malami and others had since challenged the anti-graft agency’s civil suit, praying the court to vacate the forfeiture order.