•HRH Igwe PD Uzochukwu (Ezudo I of Mgbidi).

The people of Ezineze Mgbidi Autonomous Community in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State, have been thrown into mourning following the sudden death of their traditional ruler, HRH Igwe PD Uzochukwu (Ezudo I of Mgbidi). This was just 24 hours before his 90th birthday and 38th coronation anniversary.

The Preparations for the grand celebrations, scheduled for Wednesday, December 31, 2025, were already underway, with billboards announcing the monarch’s milestone birthday hoisted across the community.

Many subjects had returned home in anticipation of the event when news broke that the Igwe had been rushed to a hospital due to a health complication.

The monarch passed away in a private hospital in Enugu metropolis, leaving his family and subjects devastated.

His son, Prince Emeka Uzochukwu, confirmed the death ,saying that the palace never expected the monarch’s demise.

Igwe Uzochukwu, who ascended the throne 38 years ago, succeeded Chief G. I. Oko and oversaw the division of Mgbidi into two autonomous communities – Ezineze Mgbidi and Ezineri Communities.

He explained that Igwe Uzochukwu had gone for a routine medical checkup to ensure he was fit for the celebrations before his health suddenly deteriorated.

“Being with him at the hospital before he passed, it was difficult to accept that the Igwe was truly gone,” Prince Emeka said. In a show of respect, community members observed a minute of silence during a town hall meeting at Central School Mgbidi.

Theophilus Nzeh, Esq, President General of Mgbidi Central Union, described the death as a monumental loss to the two autonomous communities in Mgbidi.

Igwe Uzochukwu, who ascended the throne 38 years ago, succeeded Chief G. I. Oko and oversaw the division of Mgbidi into two autonomous communities – Ezineze Mgbidi and Ezineri Communities.

He will be remembered for his leadership, vision, and contributions to the development of his people.

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the remand of former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), his son Abdulaziz Malami, and an associate, Hajia Bashir Asabe, at the Kuje Correctional Centre pending the hearing of their bail applications on January 2, 2026.

The defendants were arraigned on Tuesday before Justice Emeka Nwite on a 16-count charge of alleged money laundering filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). All three pleaded not guilty to the charges, which involve conspiracy to conceal, retain, and disguise proceeds of unlawful activities amounting to billions of naira.

The alleged offences, said to have occurred between 2015 and 2025, include using corporate entities and bank accounts to launder funds, retaining large sums of cash as collateral for loans, and acquiring high-value properties in Abuja, Kano, Kebbi, and other locations.

Some of the acts are alleged to have taken place during Malami’s tenure as Nigeria’s chief law officer, contravening the Money Laundering (Prohibition and Prevention) Acts of 2011 (as amended) and 2022.

Specific counts include the concealment of over ₦1.014 billion in a Sterling Bank account through Metropolitan Auto Tech Limited between July 2022 and June 2025, and the use of illicit funds to purchase luxury properties in Abuja districts such as Maitama and Asokoro.

Following the not-guilty pleas, defence counsel Joseph Daudu (SAN) made an oral application for bail. However, EFCC prosecutor Ekele Iheanacho (SAN) opposed it, noting that a written bail application had been served on the prosecution late the previous night and requesting time to respond.

Justice Nwite ruled that pursuing both oral and written applications simultaneously would undermine fair hearing principles and potentially “ambush” the prosecution.

He declined the oral request and adjourned the matter to January 2, 2026, for the formal bail hearing, ordering the defendants’ remand in Kuje Correctional Centre in the interim.

Malami had been in EFCC custody since early December following investigations into the allegations.

The case marks a significant development in the anti-graft agency’s probe into suspected financial irregularities linked to the former minister.

•Abubakar Malami in the FHC Abuja, Tuesday, 30 December 2025.

Trial Justice Emeka Nwike issued the remand order after he rejected an oral bail application the defendants made through their team of lawyers led by Mr J. B. Daudu, SAN.

The court stressed the need to allow the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which opposed the release of the defendants on bail, to file its counter-affidavit.

The former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, his son, and one other person pleaded not guilty to alleged money laundering on Tuesday.

Malami and the others were arraigned before the Federal High Court in Abuja after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed a 16- count charges against him, his son, Abubakar Abdulaziz Malami, and an associate, Hajia Bashir Asabe.

Among the charges are large-scale money laundering and the illegal acquisition of properties worth over N8.7 billion.

The EFCC’s witnesses include investigators, bank officials, bureau de change operators, and company representatives.

Consequently, the court ordered that Malami, alongside his son, Abdulaziz, and an accomplice, Hajia Bashir Asabe, should remain in Kuje prison till January 2, 2026, when their formal request for bail would be considered.

The Trial Justice Emeka Nwike issued the remand order after he rejected an oral bail application the defendants made through their team of lawyers led by Mr J. B. Daudu, SAN.

The court stressed the need to allow the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which opposed the release of the defendants on bail, to file its counter-affidavit.

Details later…