Judiciary

 A Division of the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja Thursday dismissed the appeal brought before it by Michael Elokun and two others. In the appeal, the trio had challenged the election that ushered in Yahaya Bello as the Governor of Kogi state. But in a unanimous judgment by a three-member panel of Justices of the Court presided over by Read More

 The Court of Appeal in Abuja Thursday reserved judgment in the two appeals by Zain Nigeria Ltd (now Airtel) and National Universities Commission (NUC).In the appeal, the duo was challenging the award of N703 million to TV Xtra production as damages for infringing on its copyright.   After the lawyers adopted their briefs, a three-member panel of justices presided over by Read More

For the second time now, the absence of a trial Judge at the Federal High Court, Abuja, Wednesday, stalled the continuation of trial of a former Head of Service (HoS) of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita. Although, Blueprint confirmed the presence of parties in the matter, including the defendants and their counsels, the absence of Justice Taiwo Taiwo who was not in court, Read More

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja has thrown out a suit that challenged the primary election that produced Rotimi Akeredolu as the governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress in the Ondo state governorship election held on October 10, 2020. While dismissing the suit in a judgment on Wednesday, Justice Ekwo held that the case instituted by Read More

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, Mr Godwin Kanu Agabi has told a federal high court in Abuja that former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Malam Mohammed Bello Adoke, got stranded in the United Arab Emirate (UAE) and could not keep up a date with his trial. According to Agabi, Adoke tested positive for the Read More

A Lawyer has dragged Mr Femi Falana, SAN and nine others before a federal high court sitting in Abuja, over the setting up of an indepent panel to probe killings during the #ENDSARS protest. The protest bordering on the disbanded police unit Blueprint recalls led to destruction of lives and properties in the country last year. While filing the application, Read More

The state High Court sitting in Uyo on Monday adjourned the case between Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Professor Ignatius Uduk. The Court presided over by Justice Archibong Archibong said the adjournment became necessary as prosecution counsel to INEC did not include his witness statement. Professor Uduk, who was the Returning Officer at Esesien was said to have allegedly Read More

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed dismay over the sudden death of rights activist, Esther Uzoma. In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, PDP described the death of the human right activist and social crusader as “a huge loss to the nation and humanity at large.” The statement added, “the late convener of Nigerian Civil Read More

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), has described the failure by the government of Cross Rivers State to pay newly employed magistrates for about 24 months as disgraceful and worrying. The umbrella association of Nigerian lawyers in a statement signed by its President, Olumide Akpata however assured that the association would do everything within its powers to resolve the issue amicably. Read More

The bail application filed by the Publisher of Sahara Reporters, Omoyele Sowore and four others Friday suffered a temporary setback following the failure of the Nigeria Police Force to produce the defendants in court. While lamenting the development in a chat with newsmen at the Chief Magistrate Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, Sowore’s lawyer, Marshal Abubakar said the Police Read More

The nation’s judiciary like every other sector under President Muhammadu Buhari had its share of challenges and triumphs in 2020. One of such triumphs, for instance, was the swearing-in of 85 Judges to preside over election tribunals in various states including Edo/Ondo States where elections held lately. Stakeholders including the Chief Justice of Nigeria took advantage of the appointment to Read More

Following the retirement of Hon. Justice Ishaq Bello on Tuesday, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Hon Justice Salisu Garba as acting Chief Judge of the Federal Capital Territory. Garba will be sworn-in on Wednesday by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Hon. Dr Justice Ibrahim.Tanko Muhammad by 2.00 pm. A statement by the Director of Information, National Read More

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) hasdemanded the release of the Publisher of Sahara Reporters andactivist, Omoyele Sowore, and others from police custody. This was contained in a complaint letter sent by SERAP to the UnitedNations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on Tuesday. The organisation also ordered a probe into the activist’s arrest and detention.Sowore alongside Juwon Sanyaolu, Peter Read More

The Board of Directors of the First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has disclosed that it is probing allegations of unethical conduct against its Managing Director, Adam Nuru. The bank chief has been at the centre of a marriage scandal involving Moyo Thomas, a former employee of the bank, and his late husband, Tunde Thomas. A petition initiated by friends of Read More

A Lagos State Special Offences Court sitting at Ikeja has slated January 20, 21, and 22, 2021 to hear the defence of former Ikeja branch Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association(NBA), Mr Adesina Ogunlana and two others, in a N21m fraud charge brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The two others standing trial with Ogunlana Read More

Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule has appointed Hon. Justice Aisha Bashir as the first female Chief Judge of the state. The appointment, though in acting capacity, followed the retirement of Justice Suleiman Umaru Dikko, who bowed out of the service having clocked 65 years in service. Governor Sule, at the swearing in ceremony held at the Government House in Lafia, Read More

The police have arraigned a 25-year-old man, Chibuike Njokwu, who allegedly bit his girlfriend on her left breast during a fight before a Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti. Njokwu, who until the incident, lives in Surulere Area, off Basiri road in Ado-Ekiti, is charged with assault and causing grievous hurt. The Prosecution Counsel, Insp. Oriyomi Akinwale, told the court Read More

In this piece, a prominent member of the inner bar, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN) examines the true definitions of democracy and justice in relation to how both have been experimented in Nigeria from 1999 till date and concludes that what has happened in Nigeria in the last 21 years is not democracy but a mere civil rule without justice. Different people Read More

Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa state, Thursday, sworn in the new acting chief judge of the state, Justice Aisha Bashir Aliyu.This marked the exit of Hon. Justice Suleiman Umaru Dikko as the chief Judge of the state whose appointment ends on  December 31, 2020, following his meritorious service in the Nasarawa state judiciary.  At the occasion, Lafia, governor Abdullahi Sule charged Read More

Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court on Tuesday dismissed the suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking the disqualification of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu from the September 19 governorship election in Edo state. Justice Mohammed dismissed the suit on the grounds that it “has become an academic exercise” having been overtaken by events.The Read More

The former Chairman, Pension Reform Task Tea (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina, has denied that he ever jumped bail during the pendency of his trial. The Federal High Court, Abuja, had in October, 2020, revoked his bail following his failure to appear in court multiple times to stand his trial. Justice Okon Abang, who gave the order in a ruling, also issued Read More