Court
Court Set to Rule on APC Balanga/Billiri Primary Controversy
By Our Political Reporter
The Federal High Court No. 2 sitting in Gombe has reserved judgment in a suit challenging the emergence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The suit was instituted by an APC aspirant, Mr. John Alfred, who is challenging the victory of Hon. Ali Isa J.C. as the party’s candidate for the House of Representatives seat.
Counsel to the plaintiff, Barrister Ahmed Musa, told the court that no valid APC primary election was conducted in the Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency on May 18, 2026, as required by law. He alleged that no election took place in any of the 20 wards across Balanga and Billiri Local Government Areas, yet the APC declared Hon. Ali Isa J.C. as the winner of the primary election.
The plaintiff urged the court to nullify the declaration of Hon. Ali Isa J.C. as the APC candidate and order the APC and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh primary election, arguing that the process was marred by substantial irregularities.
In his defence, counsel to the first defendant, Hon. Ali Isa J.C., J.J. Adamu, SAN, filed a motion on notice alongside a preliminary objection, urging the court to dismiss the suit. He maintained that the APC primary election was validly conducted across the Balanga/Billiri Federal Constituency.
The senior lawyer further informed the court that Hon. Ali Isa J.C. resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on April 14, 2026, relinquished his position as the Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, and subsequently obtained valid membership of the APC before participating in the party’s primary election.
He relied on Order 4 Rule 6 of the Federal High Court Practice Directions, arguing that the plaintiff’s suit lacked merit and should be struck out.
Also, counsel to the APC, Barrister Muzzammil Yahaya, raised a preliminary objection challenging the competence of the suit and the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the matter. He urged the court to dismiss the case for being incompetent.
Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Barrister Bashi M. Abubakar, told the court that the commission monitored the APC primary elections across Gombe State and confirmed that it has the official list of candidates who emerged from the exercise.
After listening to the submissions of all parties, the presiding judge, Justice Verah Eneibor Ibrahim, reserved judgment and said a date for the delivery of the judgment would be communicated to all parties through their respective counsel.
By Our Court Reporter
Chief Magistrate Court No. 1 in Gombe, presided over by Chief Magistrate Hon. Musa Saleh Kilawa, has granted bail to a 55-year-old woman, Antine Amadu, of Dawaki Quarters, Gombe, who is facing a charge of allegedly receiving stolen property.
The defendant was arraigned before the court over allegations that she dishonestly received a gallon of Turkey oil valued at N60,000 from one Ibrahim Umar Hassan of Ajiya Quarters, Gombe.
The prosecution told the court that the oil had allegedly been stolen from one Haruna Mohammed Magaji, also of Ajiya Quarters, Gombe.
According to the charge, the alleged offence was committed on 27th August 2026 at about 1:00 a.m.
The State Counsel and Prosecutor, Barrister Hafsat Aliyu, told the court that the alleged offence contravened Section 317 of the Penal Code Law.
When the charge was read and explained to the defendant, she pleaded not guilty to the allegation.
Following her plea, the court granted the defendant bail pending further proceedings in the matter.
Chief Magistrate Musa Saleh Kilawa subsequently adjourned the case to 14th September 2026 for hearing.
The defendant remains presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a competent court.
Court
Gombe Court Bails Engineer Sulaiman Shera Danwawu Over Alleged False EFCC Arrest Claim Against Jamilu Gwamna
By Our Court Reporter
The Gombe Chief Magistrate’s Court No. 1, presided over by Magistrate Musa Saleh Kilawa, has granted bail to Engineer Suleiman Ibrahim Danwawu of Manawachi Quarters, Gombe, who is facing charges bordering on alleged defamation of character and injurious falsehood.
Engineer Danwawu was arraigned over allegations that he, alongside Abba Sani Pantami and Hafiz Aliyu Kabade, who are currently at large, published and reproduced what the prosecution described as false statements on their respective Facebook accounts concerning Dr. Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna, a gubernatorial aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Gombe State.
According to the prosecution, the alleged publication, made on July 28, 2026, falsely claimed that Dr. Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna had been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged diversion of funds belonging to the Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO).
The prosecution alleged that the publication was made with the intention of causing harm to Dr. Gwamna’s reputation, or with knowledge or reason to believe that the statement could damage his reputation.
Presenting the case before the court, the State Counsel and Prosecutor, Barrister B. A. Mahmoud, said the alleged offences contravened Sections 79, 391 and 393 of the Penal Code Law.
When the charges were read and explained to him, Engineer Dawawu pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
Following his plea, his counsel, Barrister Emma Dilos Lasmadas, applied for his bail pursuant to Section 36(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended, and Section 177(1) of the Gombe State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, 2020.
After considering the bail application, the court granted Engineer Dawawu bail subject to conditions which he is required to fulfil.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter until August 31, 2026, for hearing.
The case remains before the court, and the allegations against the defendant are yet to be proven. The defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Court
Hamma saleh vs Pantami: Federal High Court Reserves Judgment in Gombe PDP Governorship Dispute
By Our Court Reporter
The Federal High Court No. 1, Gombe, presided over by Hon. Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed, has reserved judgment in the suit filed by Alhaji Hamma saleh Abdulkadir, challenging the emergence of Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the 2027 Gombe State governorship election.
The matter, which was first heard on 9 July 2026, came up for continuation on Thursday, 23 July 2026.
At the previous sitting, counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Barrister S. O. Onaghba, applied for an extension of time to enable him regularise his processes before the court. The application was granted, and the case was adjourned to 23 July 2026 for hearing.
At Thursday’s proceedings, all parties moved their respective preliminary objections and adopted their final written addresses.
Appearing for the parties were Barrister Toli Babalele and his legal team for the plaintiff, Mr. A. A. Ajibade, SAN, for the PDP, A. G. Kahinde, SAN, for Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, and Barrister S. O. Onaghba for INEC.
Among those present in court were the plaintiff, Alhaji Hammasale Abdulkadir, the PDP State Secretary, Alhaji Adamu Haruna Abubakar, and the party’s State Organising Secretary, Hassan Mohammed Santana.
After listening to submissions from all counsel, Hon. Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed reserved the matter for judgment. A date for the judgment is expected to be communicated to the parties.
The case is being closely watched by political stakeholders across Gombe State, as the outcome is expected to have significant implications for the PDP’s preparations ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
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