A Federal High Court judge has recused himself from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) high-profile case against former Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), citing personal reasons.

Justice Obiora Egwatu made the announcement in open court on Thursday, stating that he was stepping aside “for personal reasons and in the interest of justice.

”The matter involves the EFCC’s pursuit of interim forfeiture of properties allegedly worth over ₦213 billion linked to Malami, as well as related proceedings.

The case had earlier been assigned following an ex-parte order granted by another judge.

With the recusal, the file is expected to be returned to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment to a new presiding judge.

The development marks the latest twist in the long-running legal action against the former minister, which continues to attract significant public interest.

A man lost his life while his wife sustained critical injuries on Thursday morning after a granite-laden truck overturned and crushed their Toyota saloon car at Eleko Junction along the Lekki–Ajah Expressway in Lagos State.

The incident was confirmed in a statement by the Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Adebayo Taofiq.

Rescue teams from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and other first responders arrived at the scene, where the man was confirmed dead on the spot.

His wife was extricated from the wreckage with multiple injuries and rushed to a nearby hospital for urgent treatment. Her condition remains critical, according to hospital sources.

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and police have cordoned off the area to manage traffic and commence investigation.

Preliminary findings suggest possible speeding and brake failure on the part of the truck driver, who has been taken into custody for questioning.

This latest road crash adds to the growing concern over reckless driving and poor vehicle maintenance on Lagos roads, where heavy trucks frequently share space with smaller vehicles and commuters.

Authorities have appealed to motorists to exercise caution and adhere to traffic rules to prevent further loss of life. The identities of the victims are yet to be released pending family notification.

• Aso Villa Abuja

The Aso Presidential Villa in Abuja will completely stop using electricity generated from the national grid by March 2026, as work on its solar power initiative reaches the final stage.

State House Permanent Secretary, Temitope Fashedemi, disclosed this on Wednesday during the presentation of the 2026 budget proposal to the Senate Committee on Special Duties at the National Assembly.

Fashedemi explained that installation of the Villa’s solar mini-grid was concluded late in 2025 and has been undergoing technical trials since December.

He expressed confidence that a full transition to the new power system would be achieved within the first quarter of the year, noting that the shift is expected to significantly reduce government’s spending on electricity.

To demonstrate the project’s effectiveness, the Permanent Secretary cited the State House Medical Centre, which switched to solar power in May 2025.

Since then, he said, the facility has operated almost entirely off-grid, without relying on generators and drawing only minimal supply from the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC).

Meanwhile, the Federal Government had earmarked N10 billion in the 2025 budget for the “Solarisation of the Villa with Solar Mini Grid,” a move that triggered debate among Nigerians.

Critics argued that installing solar panels at the seat of power suggested a lack of confidence in efforts to stabilise the country’s electricity supply.

The 2026 Appropriation Bill proposes an additional N7 billion to complete the initiative.