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Tag: Federal High Court

  • Federal High Court approves redeployment of Justices Abang, Dimgba, others

    Federal High Court approves redeployment of Justices Abang, Dimgba, others

    A new re-deployment ‎by the management of the Federal High Court has brought back a prominent judge of the court, Justice Okon Abang, to the Abuja Division, from where he was posted to Asaba division two years ago.

    The new redeployment according to a circular by the Chief Judge, Justice Adamu Abdu-Kafarati, is to take effect from February 11.

    Judges affected by the redeployment announced in the circular included Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, who is posted to Asaba to replace Justice Abang.

    ‎Justice Dimgba who is reputed for speedy hearing and determination of both civil and criminal cases in Abuja was appointed a judge in 2015 and has since remained in Abuja Division, his first posting.

    The rest of the judges with new postings are Justice Babs Kuewumi, who is redeployed from Lagos to Ado-Ekiti; Justice Babatunde Quadri, from Abuja to Maiduguri; Justice Taiwo Taiwo, from Ado-Ekiti to Abuja; and Justice J. K Dagat from Maiduguri to Lagos.

    The circular titled, ‘Further posting of judges’, added a note which read, “Hon. Justice B. O Kuewumi will resume in Ekiti on February 4, while all other judges affected by the transfer will resume in their division on February 11”.

    Although Justice Abang was redeployed to Asaba in January 2017, he was given the authority by the Chief Judge of the court, Justice Abdu-Kafarati, to continue to hear some part-heard criminal cases in the Abuja division.

    Some of the cases he continued to hear in Abuja included those of a former spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party, Olisa Metuh, a former governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako, and the late former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh.

    With the new redeployment, it is believed that the cases being handled by the judge would be given an expedited hearing.

    Before the new posting, Justice Abang, who had often expressed his desire to give effect to the relatively new provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act relating to speedy trial, had only been able to devote ‎only a week in two or three months to the cases.

    But back in Abuja, the judge will be able to devote more time to the cases.

    It is believed that ‎Justice Dimgba, who is expected to resume in the Asaba Division of the court on February 11, will also be given the authority to conclude a number of high profile criminal cases pending before him.

  • Federal High Court gets new rules to ensure speedy dispensation of justice

    Federal High Court gets new rules to ensure speedy dispensation of justice

    Justice Adamu Abdul-Kafarati, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Abuja, says a brand new Alternative Dispute Resolution Rules (ADRR), have been put together to ensure speedy dispensation of justice.

    Abdul-Kafarati also disclosed that the court has revised the Federal High Court Assets Management Corporation Rules.

    The judge made the presentation of the rules in Abuja, at the court’s end of year get-together, retirement and merit award ceremonies.

    He expressed confidence that with the new rules, the administration of justice would be more robust.

    “With these rules, I am confident that the administration of justice, particularly in the court, will be more robust and stress free, for judges, practitioners and the general public,” he said.

    He expressed regrets that the Amended Civil Procedure Rules of the court, was not ready for presentation but gave the assurance that as soon as it was ready, it would also be presented to the public.

    The chief judge also announced an increase in the welfare package of judges adding that the increase was only marginal due to paucity of funds.

    “There is a total addition of N50,000 only to the welfare package raising the total from N305,000 to N355,000.

    “Due to the large numerical strength of the judges, the new improved welfare package will enhance the duty of care to our judges, to the tune of N252. 800 million yearly.

    “But this will take effect from Jan. 2019.”

    He was optimistic that the improved welfare package would assuage the occupational hazards of judges and bring out the best in them.

    The judge also gave awards to the three most outstanding staff of the court for the year and also honoured all its 93 retirees for the year 2018.

    “I announce Mr Rasaq Sule as the winner of the Chief Judge’s Annual Merit Award, Joseph Areh as the first runner up and Mrs Olive Essien, as the second runner up.”

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the court will commence its Christmas vacation on Dec. 24 and the vacation will end on Jan. 6, 2019.

  • Federal High Court commences annual vacation

    The Federal High Court commenced its annual vacation on July 9, while the vacation would end on September 14.

    Mr Emmanuel Gakko, the Chief Registrar of the Court, in a circular issued in Abuja, said that the court would resume sitting in all judicial divisions on September 17.

    Gakko said that the general public, lawyers and litigants were advised to take note of the dates for the court vacation as no court would sit during the period.

    The News Agency of Nigeria, reports that Justices Nnamdi Dimgba and Babatunde Quadri, would sit as vacation judges to attend to urgent applications such as matters of fundamental human rights.

    NAN also reports that the court usually gives some weeks of vacation to allow judicial officers take some time off to refresh and prepare for the new legal year.

     

     

  • JUST IN: Justice Ademola resigns as Federal High Court judge

    JUST IN: Justice Ademola resigns as Federal High Court judge

    Justice Adeniyi Ademola has tendered his letter of voluntary retirement from the bench of the Federal High Court.

    The judge was due for his statutory retirement in March 2018 but suddenly turned in his letter of resignation dated December 6, 2017, on Thursday.

    Although his one-paragraph letter was received at the Office of the Acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, on December 7 (Thursday), the letter stated that his retirement took effect from December 6 (Wednesday).

    The letter did not disclose the reason for the judge’s decision.

    But it was learnt that the National Judicial Council did not act on his previous letter of notice of retirement dated September 25, 2017.

    It was addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the National Judicial Council, Justice Walter Onnoghen.

    The letter indicated that the NJC would receive the letter through the Acting Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Abdu Kafarati.

    Titled, ‘Letter of voluntary retirement’, the letter read, “I hereby voluntarily retire from the bench of the Federal High Court with effect from December 6, 2017.”

    The footnote of the letter added, “This letter supersedes my previous notice of retirement from the Federal High Court of Nigeria dated 25/09/2017”.

    The decision of the judge was a sudden one as he had only some days ago fixed Thursday for judgment in a terrorism case.

    The letter also came at a time the National Judicial Council, which had been considering a petition sent against him, is having a two-day meeting which commenced on Wednesday.

    Earlier on Thursday, lawyers, journalists and the defendants facing the terrorism charges scheduled for judgment, were turned back byJustice Ademola’s court’s officials.

    One of the officials told all lawyers whose cases were scheduled to come up on Thursday to return to the court next week for a new date.

    Justice Ademola was of the judges arrested by the Department of State Service last year October.

    He was subsequently prosecuted alongside his wife, Olubowale,‎ and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria on gratification charges.

    But the trio were exonerated by the trial court after upholding their no-case submission earlier this year.

  • Gov Wike hands over Federal High Court complex to Chief Judge

    Gov Wike hands over Federal High Court complex to Chief Judge

    In a bid to improve access to justice, the Rivers State Government has handed over the New Port Harcourt Federal High Court complex constructed by the Wike administration to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta.

    The hand-over of the Complex which houses six courtrooms was preceded by a formal commissioning by the Chief Judge, Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta on Friday.

    ImageFile: Gov Wike hands over Federal High Court complex to Chief Judge
    The Federal High Court complex.

    Speaking before handing over the Federal High Court complex to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike stated that his administration resolved to strengthen the judicial system as a way of promoting good governance and making Rivers State a regional judicial hub.

    He said “We therefore resolved not only to complete all stalled court projects but also, to initiate new ones to meet the increasing demand for judicial services by our people.

    “In a country such as ours, where the justice delivery system is pretentiously federal but manifestly unitary, our quest for having the most modern and advanced court houses and justice system cannot be completely achieved if we limit our judicial transformation agenda only to State Courts.

    “This is part of the reason behind our inclusive and non-discriminatory policy thrust of providing modern court buildings and necessary operational support to Federal Courts at enormous financial cost to Rivers taxpayers.”

    Governor Wike emphasised “Let it also be known that we have built this courthouse to serve and advance the public interest and not to satisfy any other self-promotive motives. Accordingly, we have fulfilled our duty as leaders who mean well for our country and its progress.

    “All that we ask in return is for the Federal Government to provide for the regular care and maintenance of this building so that its functionality is preserved for the use of the present and future generations.”

    The governor regretted the hunting and hounding of a small band of targeted judges to prison in Gestapo style even before allegations against them were investigated.

    He said such actions amount to political witch-hunt and practical strategy to browbeat the judiciary into submission.

    He said “This nation must find better ways of fighting judicial and other corruptions with all the seriousness they deserve within the framework of the rule of law instead of entertaining the gullible public with a phantom and tendentious actions against corruption.”

    Commissioning the Port Harcourt Federal High Court complex built and donated by the Rivers State Government, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta stated that the Federal High Court complex in Port Harcourt is outstanding and the best to be constructed by a state government.

    He commended Governor Wike for his commitment to the provision of the relevant infrastructure for the Federal High Court, pointing out that the court will dispense justice according to the law.

    He said that following the official hand over, the court will begin to use the facility on Monday.

    Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Adama Iyaye-Laminkara expressed happiness that the Rivers State Government is providing facilities to increase access to justice.

    Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Emmanuel Aguma (SAN) said all the Wike administration has done in the last two years is to open courts and create access to justice.

    Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Chief Onueze Okocha said the hand over of the Federal High Court complex is an addition to the testimonials of performance for Governor Wike.

    According to the Special Adviser on Special Projects to the Rivers State Governor, Mr Dum Wite, the Complex has six courtrooms, exquisite judges chambers, 12 holding cells, changing rooms for lawyers, exhibits rooms and wider parking lot.