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Tag: Judge

  • Sad ! Ex- Federal High Court Chief Judge Abutu is dead

    Sad ! Ex- Federal High Court Chief Judge Abutu is dead

    A former chief judge of the Federal High Court, Daniel Abutu is dead.

    Abutu’s death was announced by the chief registrar of the Federal High Court, Suleiman Hassan on Wednesday, June 4.

    Having served as a FHC’s chief judge between September 2009 and March 2011, Abutu was committed to justice for all.

    “The federal high court regrets to announce the passing of our former chief judge, Honourable Justice D. D. Abutu, who served the court and the nation with distinction, integrity, and unwavering commitment to justice,” Hassan said.

    He also noted that all the divisions of the Federal High Courts have been directed to display Abutu’s portrait.

    This gesture, Hassan said is in honour of Abutu’s unprecedented legacy as the chief judge of the Federal High Court.

    According to him, the portraits are expected to be displayed in areas that are dignifying and visible within the courthouses.

    In addition, a condolence register is also expected to be opened at all divisions of the Federal High Court immediately.

    This will allow judges, staff and distinguished members of the bar the opportunity to eulogise the late judge.

    Hassan also stated that all information concerning Abutu’s funeral arrangements would be communicated through the appropriate channels in due time.

  • Judge withdraws from Sen. Natasha’s suit against Akpabio, others

    Judge withdraws from Sen. Natasha’s suit against Akpabio, others

    Justice Obiora Egwuatu of a Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday, recused himself from the suit filed by Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, against the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and others.

    The suit is seeking to stop the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions from going ahead with the disciplinary proceedings over alleged misconduct by Akpoti-Uduaghan.

    Justice Egwuatu announced his withdrawal from the case over allegations of bias levelled against the court by Akpabio, who is the 3rd defendant in the matter.

    When the matter was called on Tuesday, the judge, after taking the appearance of lawyers for the parties in the suit, announced his decision to withdraw from the case.

    He cited the allegation as the major reason for his decision.

    It was gathered that the senate president had expressed lack of confidence in the ability of the court to do justice on the matter, hence the reason for the development.

    The judge subsequently ordered that the case file be remitted back to the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho, for reassignment

    Justice Egwuatu had, on March 19, set aside its order of March 4, declaring the suspension of Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan by the Senate as null and void.

    Justice Obiora Egwuatu, in a ruling, vacated the suit after listening to the arguments of counsel for the plaintiff and lawyers to the defendants in the suit.

    NAN observes that though the court had earlier fixed today for the hearing of the matter, March 19 was however, rescheduled to take the motion on notice filed by the Senate (2nd defendant) to seek for the order vacating the March 4 order which declared any action taken by the defendants during the pendency of the suit as null, void and of no effect whatsoever.

    The judge had granted Natasha’s five reliefs on March 4, including Order Number Four which declared any action taken by the defendants during the pendency of the suit as null, void and of no effect whatsoever.

    The judge granted the five prayers after Sanusi Musa, SAN, who appeared for Natasha, moved the ex-parte motion  marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/384/2025.

    Natasha, who represents Kogi Central Senatorial District, had, in the motion ex-parte, sued clerk of the National Assembly (NASS) and the Senate as 1st and 2nd defendants.

    She also named the President of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Sen. Neda Imasuem, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Code of Conduct as 3rd and 4th defendants respectively.

    The senator had sought an order of interim injunction restraining the Senate’s committee headed by Imasuem from proceeding with the purported investigation against her for alleged misconduct sequel to the events that occurred at the plenary on Feb. 20, pursuant to the referral by the Senate on Feb. 25, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction, among others.

    However, the Senate, in a motion on notice filed on March 17 by its lawyer, Chikaosolu Ojukwu, SAN, had sought an order setting aside Order Number Four in the enrolled ex-parte order made by Justice Egwuatu against the defendants in Natasha’s suit.

    The Senate, through Ojukwu, urged the judge to vacate the order in the interest of fair hearing.

    “By Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is one of the Houses of the National Assembly established to make laws for the peace, order and good governance of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “That the said Order No. 4 of 4th March, 2025 as granted, effectively restrains the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from conducting any of its legislative duties in accordance with its constitutional functions.”

    Ojukwu said enforcing the said order, as granted, would result in a constitutional crisis and anarchy, as the entire legislative duties of the Senate would be made to grind to a halt.

    “The order offends the doctrine of separation of powers as enshrined in Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
    “This honourable court lacks the jurisdiction to restrain parliament from conducting its constitutional duties,” he said.

    He therefore urged the court to hold that the entire proceedings of March 4 upon which that breach occured was in nullity.

    Lawyer to the clerk, Charles Yoila; Kehinde Ogunwumiju, SAN, who appeared for Akpabio and Umeh Kalu, SAN, who represented Imasuem, aligned themselves with Ojukwu’s argument.

    But counsel, who appeared for Natasha, Michael Numa, SAN, disagreed with their submissions.

    He described their argument as the conspiracy  of the defence.

    The lawyer urged the court to dismiss the defence application and exercise its disciplinary powers on them for alleged contempt of the valid court order.

    He argued that the defendants had, with audacity, disobeyed the order of the court.

    While responding to the argument of Ojukwu, Numa submitted that “parties are bound by the prayers on the motion paper.”

    He urged the court to discountenance the application.

    The lawyer argued that the court must consider the entire orders in their ex-parte motion and not in piecemeal.

    He said their argument was immaterial.

    According to him, the Senate (2nd defendant) did not mention the propriety of Orders One, Two, Three and Five made by this honourable court.

    “The fact that Order Four was made is only an ancillary order to give effect to the motion that until the matter is dispensed with,” he said.

    Numa described the application by the defence as an affront on the court, that the judge should set aside the orders they had not challenged.

    He said the defendants had not even addressed the order directing them to show cause within 72 hours upon the service of the order.

    “This is an invitation to anarchy my lord,” he said, citing previous cases to back his argument.

    “Whatever reservation they have, their only duty is to come to court. The order was that the respondents  to come and show course

    “Their application is self-defeating,” he argued.

    NAN reports that in her contempt charge, the embattled lawmaker argued that her suspension constituted wilful disobedience to the subsisting court order issued on March 4.

    She stated that an enrolled order of the interim injunction issued by Justice Egwuatu was duly served on the defendants on March 5.

    According to Form 48, the defendants/contemnors “deliberately and contumaciously disregarded” the binding directive of the court and “proceeded with acts in flagrant defiance of the authority of the court.”(

  • Nnamdi Kanu apologises over attacks on judge, others

    Nnamdi Kanu apologises over attacks on judge, others

    Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), on Friday, tendered an apology over his recent attacks on the Federal High Court and Justice Binta Nyako.

    Kanu, through his new counsel and former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, also apologised to the Federal Government’s lawyer, Chief Awomolo, SAN.

    The IPOB leader equally apologised to his team of lawyers earlier led by Aloy Ejimakor for also attacking them while before Justice Nyako.

    Kanu tendered the apology through his lead counsel, Chief Agabi, before Justice James Omotosho, the new trial judge.

    Upon resumed trial, Agabi sought the court’s permissio to deliver a message on Kanu’s behalf.

    He said he had already discussed the development with the lawyer to the prosecution and Justice Omotosho granted the application.

    he News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Omotosho had fixed March 21 for the trial of Kanu.

    The judge fixed the date after the case file was transferred to him.

    Kanu, who was brought back to the country in June 2021 from Kenya, was expected to take his plea as the case begins afresh (de novo).

    NAN reports that the Chief Judge (CJ) of FHC, Justice John Tsoho, had, in a letter dated March 4 and addressed to Kanu’s lead counsel, Mr Aloy Ejimakor, communicated the re-assignment of the case from Justice Binta Nyako to Justice Omotosho.

    The re-assignment followed the demand by Kanu and his team of lawyers for the transfer of the seven-count terrorism charge to another judge, after alleging bias.

    Justice Nyako, on Sept. 24, 2024, withdrew from the case and sent the case file to the CJ of FHC for re-assignment.

    The judge said she could not proceed with a trial where a defendant lacked confidence in the court.

    However, the CJ sent Kanu’s case file back to Justice Nyako for adjudication, insisting that a formal application must be made by the defence before the recusal could be accepted.

    But Kanu and Ejimakor, on Feb. 10, insisted that Justice Nyako no longer had jurisdiction to preside over the case after her recusal (withdrawal) from the matter, prompting the judge to adjourned the case indefinitely (sine die).

    NAN reports that Justice Ahmed Mohammed (who has been elevated to Appeal Court) and Justice Tsoho (before becoming the CJ) had presided over Kanu’s trial before it was assigned to Justice Nyako, following the defendant’s rejection of the two judges.

  • New judge fixes date for Nnamdi Kanu’s trial

    New judge fixes date for Nnamdi Kanu’s trial

    Justice James Omotosho of a Federal High Court (FHC) in Abuja has fixed March 21 for the trial of Mr Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to begin.

    NAN reliably gathered on Wednesday, that Justice Omotosho fixed the date after the case file was transferred to him.

    Kanu, who was brought back to the country in June 2021 from Kenya, was expected to take his plea as the case begins afresh (de novo).

    The Chief Judge (CJ) of FHC, Justice John Tsoho, had, in a letter dated March 4 and addressed to Kanu’s lead counsel, Mr Aloy Ejimakor, communicated the re-assignment of the case from Justice Binta Nyako to Justice Omotosho.

    The re-assignment followed the demand by Kanu and his team of lawyers for the transfer of the seven-count terrorism charge to another judge, after alleging bias.

    Justice Nyako, on Sept. 24, 2024, recused (withdrew) herself from the case and sent the case file to the CJ of FHC for re-assignment.

    The judge said she could not proceed with a trial where a defendant lacked confidence in the court.

    However, the CJ sent Kanu’s case file back to Justice Nyako for adjudication, insisting that a formal application must be made by the defence before the recusal could be accepted.

    But Kanu and Ejimakor, on Feb. 10, insisted that Justice Nyako no longer had jurisdiction to preside over the case after her recusal (withdrawal) from the matter, prompting the judge to adjourned the case indefinitely (sine die).

    Justice Ahmed Mohammed (who has been elevated to Appeal Court) and Justice Tsoho (before becoming the CJ) had presided over Kanu’s trial before it was assigned to Justice Nyako, following the defendant’s rejection of the two judges.

  • Just in: Finally, Borno Judge regains freedom after two months in abductors den

    Just in: Finally, Borno Judge regains freedom after two months in abductors den

    Finally, Borno State High Court Judge, Haruna Mshelia, held captive since June, has regained freedom.

    Recall Mshelia was taken by suspected Boko Haram members on June 24 while traveling from Biu to Maiduguri with his wife, driver, and police escort. During the abduction, his police escort was killed.

    The judge’s release was confirmed through a message on a Borno lawyers’ WhatsApp group, which stated, “Alhamdulillah, we have just received the news of Justice Haruna Mshelia’s release.”

    According to Premium Times, only Judge Mshelia was freed; his wife and driver are still being held. The message urged continued prayers for their safe return.

    Details regarding the conditions of Mshelia’s release, including whether a ransom was paid, remain unclear. The police have not yet issued a statement on the matter.

    Chairman of the NBA Maiduguri branch, Hamza Zannah, verified Mshelia’s release to Humangle.

    Judge Mshelia, who transitioned from private legal practice to the Borno State Judiciary in May 2012, was one of two judges selected from private practitioners in the state.

    Borno is severely impacted by Boko Haram, making it one of Nigeria’s most terrorized states. The group’s actions have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands and forced many others to flee.

  • Court gives 2 Kano Judges 48 hours to resign appointment

    Court gives 2 Kano Judges 48 hours to resign appointment

    A Federal High Court sitting in Kano, on Thursday gave Justice Farouk Lawan and Justice Zuwaira Yusuf, 48 hours to resign as Chairmen of the Judicial Commissions
    of Inquiry appointed by Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf.

    Gov Kabir-Yusuf, inaugurated commission on Political Violence and Cases of Missing Persons and recovery of misappropriated public properties and assets from May 2015 to May 2023.

    The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, through his counsel, Sanusi Musa SAN, sought an order stopping Kabir-Yusuf, from probing his administration.

    The respondents are the National Judicial Council, Revenue Mobilisation Allocation And Fiscal Commission ,AttorneyGeneral Kano State, Justice Farouk Lawan and Justice Zuwaira Yusuf.

    Delivering a judgment, Justice Simon Amobeda, said failure by the judges to comply with the 48-hour deadline, the National Judicial Council would stop forthwith, the payment of their remuneration.

    “The judges should desist from performing executive functions assigned to them by the Governor of Kano State in Court rooms meant to adjudicate disputes between persons and authorities in Kano State.

    “The action by the governor to investigate Ganduje without appealing an earlier court judgment by Justice A. M Liman, on March 24, amounts to abuse of office and undermining the sanctity of the judiciary.

    NAN reports that in that judgment, Justice Liman held that  Ganduje can only be investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

    He said that by the combined provisions of Sections 153(1)(i) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, CFRN, (as altered), Paragraph 21(d) of Part I of the Third Schedule Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered)and sections 1.

    “Sections 3 and 6 of the Commission of Inquiry Law, Cap. 26, Laws of Kano State, the Governor of Kano State has no power to appoint the 4th and 5th Defendants and administer another Oath of Office on them to serve as Chairmen of Commission of Inquiry constituted by the Governor.

    “An office meant for Commissioners of Kano State Government in order to exercise executive powers assigned to them by the Governor of Kano State and stop them from performing their functions as Judges of the High Court of Kano State, without recourse to the first Defendant.

    “That, by the combined effects of the provisions of Sections 6, 84, 153(1)(1), 271(2), 272 together with Paragraph 21(c) of Part 1 of the Third Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as altered).

    “The 4th and 5th defendants are not legally permitted, while still purporting to hold the Office of Judge of High Court of Kano State.

    “To accept appointments as Chairmen of Commissions of Inquiry with quasi-judicial powers equivalent powers to that of a Magistrate Court and subject to review by a Judge of the High Court of Kano State” Amobeda said

  • Alleged misappropriation: CJ transfers Ganduje, 7 others case to new judge

    Alleged misappropriation: CJ transfers Ganduje, 7 others case to new judge

    The Kano State Chief Judge, Justice Dije Abdu-Aboki, has transferred the case of alleged misappropriation, and diversion of funds filed against the All Progressive Congress(APC) National Chairman, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje and seven others to a new judge.

    The case was earlier before a Kano High Court 4, presided by Justice Usman Na’abba, has now been transferred to Kano High Court 7 sitting at Miller Road presided by Justice Amina Adamu-Aliyu.
    The Kano State Judiciary Public Relations Officer, Baba Jibo-Ibrahim, confirmed the development in an interview on Thursday in Kano.

    He said the office of the CJ has the power to direct and transfer a case at any stage so far it has not reached the level of judgment.

    Ganduje,alongside his wife,Hafsat Umar, Abubakar Bawuro, Umar Abdullahi Umar, Jibrilla Muhammad, Lamash properties Limited,Safari Textiles Limited and Lasage General Enterprises Limited are charged with eight-count charge.

    The state government instituted an eight count charge bordering on bribery allegations, Misappropriation and division of public funds running into billions of Niara against the defendants.

    However, no date has been fixed for the case before Justice Adamu-Aliyu.

    Justice Na’abba, had on April 29,  fixed May 16, for ruling in an application by the State Government,seeking a substituted service on the respondents.

    NAN

  • Bobrisky reveals gender to judge in court

    Bobrisky reveals gender to judge in court

    Controversial cross-dresser, Idris Olanrewaju Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky, admitted to being a man before he was sentenced to prison.

    Bobrisky was sentenced to six months imprisonment with no option of fine over naira abuse charges.

    Before the sentence was pronounced, the Judge asked Bobrisky about his sex, “I am a man,” he quickly replied.

    He was then remanded to serve his jail term at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, with the judge ruling that the sentence would commence from March 24, 2024, the day of his arrest.

    Justice Abimbola Awogboro of the Federal High Court in Lagos handed the judgement on Friday, April 12, 2024.

    Justice Awogboro said the judgment will serve as a deterrent to others who are fond of abusing and mutilating the naira.

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned him on a six-count charge.

    Two of the charges were later dropped, while he pleaded guilty to naira abuse, but pleaded for mercy as a first-time offender.

  • Don’t jail me, let me go home – Convict begs judge

    Don’t jail me, let me go home – Convict begs judge

    A Federal High Court Lagos on Wednesday convicted and sentenced a 30-year-old man, Omonile Akinbaye, to a term of 12 months in the correctional service for drug trafficking.

    After the conviction, Akinbaye incoherently told the court, “No send me to jail, allow me to go to my house.”

    The defendant was arraigned before Justice Friday Ogazi on a one-count charge of unlawful dealing in hemp.

    Akinbaye who had no legal representation, pleaded guilty to the charge.

    Following his plea, the Prosecutor, Mrs Juliana Negedu, called a witness, Mr Benjamin Nketah, an operative of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), to give evidence.

    The witness told the court that he works as a central exhibit keeper with the Lagos command of the NDLEA where the defendant was brought before him on Oct. 18, 2023, with the seized narcotics.

    He told the court that requisite analysis was conducted on the substance, which tested positive to cannabis sativa also known as hemp, weighing 341g.

    The prosecutor also tendered several documents before the court such as a drug analysis form, request for scientific aid form, and a packing of substance form.

    Other documents tendered included a bulk of the narcotics, drug analysis report and statement of the defendant.

    She urged the court to proceed and convict the defendant based on the evidence adduced.

    The court convicted the defendant as charged.

    Before the sentence, the court asked the convict if he had any reason why the court should not send him to jail.

    In response, the convict who had been making “uncoordinated” statements in court said: “No send me to that place; allow me to go to my house.”

    The convict also told the court that he owned a vehicle which he personally drives, but that he also traded on “smoke” as a support.

    He said: “I get motor wey be my own, but I dey sell smoke also. If this one no work, then that one go work,” he said

    Meanwhile, some lawyers in court raised concerns about the sanity of the convict stressing that he could be paranoid and unaware.

    On its part, the court asked the prosecution, whether she thought the convict was a proper case for rehabilitation rather than prosecution.

    In response, the prosecutor informed the court that cases were referred for rehabilitation where the volume of narcotics was not above 100g.

    She noted that the instant case dealt with 341g of cannabis which was far above the threshold.

    In his verdict, the court sentenced the convict to 12 months at the correctional centre with an option of N250,000 fine.

    The court warned the convict never to engage in any deal on weed, adding that if he was brought back to the court, he risked a jail term of seven years.

    The court ordered that he be transferred to the correctional centre pending his fulfilment of fine option.

    The convict, according to the charge, committed the offence on Oct. 13, 2023 at the Isolo area of Lagos.

    “He dealt in 341g of cannabis sativa, restricted narcotics similar to cocaine and heroin, without lawful authority.”

    The offence, the prosecutor said, contravened the provisions of Section 11(c) of the NDLEA Act Cap N30 Law of the Federation, 2004.

  • Court rejects suit seeking to stop FCT CJ from appointing 12 judges

    Court rejects suit seeking to stop FCT CJ from appointing 12 judges

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, rejected a suit seeking to stop the Chief Judge of FCT High Court, Hussein Baba-Yusuf, from appointing 12 judges into the bench of the court.

    Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling on the ex-parte motion moved by Emmanuel Emerenini, rather directed the plaintiff, Azubuike Oko, to put the defendants on notice of the motion ex-parte within 2 days of the order.

    Justice Ekwo also ordered Oko, a legal practitioner, to serve the defendants with all processes filed in the suit within two days of the order for the defendants to show cause why the prayers on the motion ought not to be granted in the next adjourned date.

    The judge, however, made an order for accelerated hearing and adjourned the matter until March 4.

    The plaintiff, in the ex-parte motion marked: FHC)ABJ/CS/205/2024, had sued Baba-Yusuf, National Judicial Council (NJC) and Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC) as 1st to 3rd defendants.

    Also joined in the suit dated and filed on Feb. 16 by Nkemakolam Okoro are the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), President of Nigeria and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) as 4th to 6th defendants respectively.

    The plaintiff sought an order directing the parties in the suit to maintain status quo ante bellum pending the hearing and determination of his motion on notice.

    In the affidavit deposed to by Christiana Dominic, Litigation Assistant in Okoro’s law firm, she described Oko as a taxpayer, a voter and a lawyer with over 19 years of experience in legal practice.

    She said Oko hails from Ebonyi, which had been routinely excluded and marginalised with respect to the appointment of judges of the High Court of FCT by Baba-Yusuf, NJC and FJSC.

    The lawyer averred that, as a matter of fact, it was the CJ (Baba-Yusuf) that computes the names of qualified lawyers from selected states of the federation and transmitted to FJSC for recommendation to NJC for appointment by the President of Nigeria,as judges of the FCT High Court.

    Dominic said based on the information from the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), the states mentioned for nomination of lawyers for appointment as judges of thee court into the 12 positions were Bauchi, Bayelsa, Enugu, Imo, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Oyo, Plateau, Rivers, Taraba, and Zamfara.

    She averred that currently, Oyo and Kogji “already had two serving judges in the FCT High Court, and the two states were given additional slots, to now have three judges, despite the fact that Ebonyi State has no single serving judge in the High Court of the FCT.”

    The lawyer prayed the court to grant their motion in the interest of justice.