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Lagos To File Contempt Charge Against National Assembly For Defying Supreme Court Ruling

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Lagos State Government has approached Nigeria’s apex court, the Supreme Court, seeking leave to commence contempt proceedings against the National Assembly.

Daily Voice reports that Lagos accused the legislature of continued move to pass the Central Gaming Bill, despite a subsisting judgment of the apex court declaring such legislation unconstitutional.

In a motion filed on behalf of the Attorney-General of Lagos State by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Bode Olanipekun, the state is seeking the Supreme Court’s leave to initiate judgment enforcement proceedings through the issuance of Form 48—a legal step that precedes the commencement of committal or contempt proceedings.

Under Nigerian law, the issuance of Form 48 serves as a formal warning to any person or body in contempt of court, and failure to purge the contempt after its issuance may result in committal to prison.

According to the affidavit filed in support of the motion, Lagos State contended that the National Assembly’s ongoing work on the Central Gaming Bill directly contravenes the Supreme Court’s judgment in SC.1/2008 – Attorney-General of Lagos State & Ors. v. Attorney-General of the Federation & Ors., delivered on November 22, 2024.

The state argued that clauses 7 and 21–64 of the proposed Bill relate entirely to lottery and gaming — subjects which the Supreme Court had already ruled fall outside the legislative competence of the National Assembly.

It noted that these provisions effectively replicate those contained in the now-nullified National Lottery Act, which was struck down by the Supreme Court in the same 2024 judgment.

Lagos State further submitted that both the nullified National Lottery Act and the Central Gaming Bill define “lottery” and “online gaming” in identical terms — as any game, scheme, arrangement, system, plan, or promotional competition based on chance, skill and chance, or sporting outcomes, which requires a licence to operate.

The affidavit stressed that despite the apex court’s 2024 ruling invalidating the National Lottery Act, Clause 62 of the Central Gaming Bill introduces “savings provisions” intended to revalidate actions taken under the voided law, thereby amounting to a direct defiance of the Supreme Court’s authority.

Lagos also pointed out that since the Supreme Court delivered its judgment, neither the Exclusive nor Concurrent Legislative Lists under the Second Schedule to the 1999 Constitution (as amended) have been altered to include lottery or gaming — further confirming that the National Assembly has no power to legislate on the matter.

Daily Voice understands that the 2024 Supreme Court judgment had categorically held that lottery and gaming cannot be regulated by any Act of the National Assembly, as these subjects are not listed under the constitutional Legislative Lists.

The apex court rejected the National Assembly’s argument that its power derived from Item 62 of the Exclusive Legislative List, which covers “trade and commerce,” or that the electronic and interstate character of gaming brought it within federal jurisdiction.

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Tragegy As Bandits Kill 12, Burn 6 Alive In Fresh Attack 

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Armed Robbers Kill Phone Shop Operator In Abuja

Suspected bandits stormed Lajinge village in Sabon Birni LGA, Sokoto State, at around 11pm on Saturday and operated for over four hours.

Six people were burnt alive after gunmen poured petrol on a room where residents had taken shelter and refused to come out.

Residents said security personnel stationed just 2km away did not respond to repeated distress calls throughout the entire attack.

Sokoto State – At least 12 people are dead after suspected bandits descended on Lajinge village in Sabon Birni Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

Six of the victims were burnt alive inside a room where they had sought refuge from the attackers.

As reported by Daily Trust, residents said the gunmen arrived at roughly 11pm on Saturday, July 19, 2026, and continued their rampage until approximately 3:30am on Sunday, with no security response throughout the entire ordeal.

6 burnt alive, 7 dead in 1 compound According to a resident who spoke anonymously, the gunmen surrounded a room where a group of people had locked themselves inside.

When those inside refused to come out, the attackers poured petrol on the structure and set it ablaze.

As occupants tried to escape through the door, they were shot, and their remains were left inside the burning room.

Those killed in the fire were identified as Mallam Wauro, also known as Mallam Roro, who was the head of the household; his two sons, Ukasha and Mujaheed; two relatives named Sufyanu and Sani Shanbami; and an internally displaced person who had been sheltering in the home.

A seventh person, Lawwali, was shot dead at the entrance of the same compound while attempting to flee. The remaining victims, including Yusuf and three other displaced persons who had taken refuge in the village, were shot while trying to escape.

A woman named Agada also died from severe shock during the attack.

Vigilantes overwhelmed, livestock stolen.

A local vigilante member who was on duty that night said the group was keeping watch near the village primary school when the shooting began.

They scattered and kept moving between hiding spots as the gunfire drew closer. Once the vigilantes were overpowered, the attackers moved through the village freely, going from house to house to steal cattle and sheep.

One of their rifles was positioned at a strategic point and kept firing to provide cover while others looted livestock.

The gunmen later targeted Mallam Wauro’s residence, killed him and his sons, abducted his two wives, and took all his cattle.

Residents said they could not confirm the exact number of people abducted, though some, particularly children, were later released by the bandits.

No security response for hours

Villagers said that despite making repeated distress calls, security personnel stationed at Unguwar Lalle and Dan Tudu communities, both roughly two kilometres from Lajinge, did not respond at any point during the four-hour attack.

One resident described the bandits walking along the main road, laughing and smoking cigarettes, after they had overrun the village.

Community leaders had reportedly submitted multiple requests to the government to deploy security forces in the area, but those appeals went unanswered.

Residents noted that eight people were also killed in the same community about three weeks before this latest attack.

The state Police spokesperson, DSP Ahmad Rufai, said he was unaware of the incident and was in transit. DSP Rufai added that he would verify upon reaching his office, but he had yet to respond by the time this report was filed.

Bandits gun down worshippers inside Sokoto mosque 

Recall that bandits attacked Tsamaye village in Sokoto state’s Sabon Birni LGA on Tuesday night, July 28, spending over six hours terrorising residents.

Seven bodies were recovered Wednesday morning, July 29, after attackers spent the night raiding homes, looting shops, and rustling livestock.

At least three abductions were confirmed after relatives called victims’ phones and the bandits answered, saying they had them in custody.

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PHOTOS: INEC Publishes Tinubu, Atiku, Peter Obi’s Certificates

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the credentials and personal particulars of President Bola Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Commission also published the details of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his running mate, Rabi’u Kwankwaso, as well as those of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Under Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, INEC is required to make the personal particulars of candidates public within 21 days of receiving them, allowing voters and other stakeholders to scrutinise the documents submitted by aspirants.

The documents published include academic certificates and other supporting credentials submitted by candidates seeking elective offices.

The publication comes ahead of the official commencement of campaigns for the 2027 presidential election on August 19.

 

 

 

 

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BREAKING: Tinubu Gives Top Appointment to Popular Ex-Governor’s Son

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President Bola Tinubu has appointed Yakubu Jang, son of former Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang, as Senior Special Assistant in the Office of the President.

The announcement was made on Saturday by Vice President Kashim Shettima while delivering a goodwill message on behalf of President Tinubu at the 80th birthday celebration and book launch of Chief Jang in Jos, Plateau State.

“On behalf of Mr President, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Yakubu Jang as Senior Special Assistant in the Office of the President,” Shettima said.

The appointment was announced at the high-profile event held at the Tamarald Event Centre in Jos, which was attended by Vice President Shettima, former President Goodluck Jonathan, governors, federal and state government officials, traditional rulers and other dignitaries.

Jonah Jang is my role model, says Mutfwang
Shettima said the appointment reflected the President’s recognition of capacity, loyalty and the need to accommodate diverse voices in governance.

Guests at the ceremony, including political leaders and associates of the Jang family, welcomed the announcement with applause.

The appointment came on the same day Nigeria’s political leaders gathered to honour the elder statesman for his decades of service in the Nigerian Air Force, as Military Administrator, two-term governor of Plateau State and senator.

Former Governor Jang, who turned 80, also unveiled his autobiography, Airman to Politics: My Life, during the event.

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