Tag: Federal High Court

Tinubu seeks Senate approval to expand Federal High Court, reform A’Court operations

Aminu Imam
Tinubu seeks to expand

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has written to the Senate seeking legislative approval to amend the Federal High Court Act and the Court of Appeal Act, proposing a significant expansion in the number of judges and wide-ranging reforms aimed at improving efficiency, reducing delays and modernising judicial processes. In separate letters read on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, the President requested an increase in the number of judges of the Federal High Court from 70 to 90, and an expansion of justices of the…

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Court grants el-Rufai’s ex-aide, 3 others bail in ₦64.8m fraud case

Aminu Imam
Court grants bail2

A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna has granted bail to four individuals, (including Jimi Lawal, a senior advisor to former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufa’i), who were arraigned on fraud and money laundering charges. The defendants, who were arraigned by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other-Related Offences Commission, (ICPC) were accused of diverting ₦64.8 million in three tranches to the bank account of Solar Life Nigeria Limited, where Lawal was believed to be the sole signatory. The other defendants are Lawal Adebisi, a former Senior Special Adviser to el-Rufa’i;…

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Abuja Federal High Court fines IGP ₦10m for illegal arrest, detention of Bashir Haɗejia

Aminu Imam
Court fines IGP

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the release of Bashir HaÉ—ejia, a politician and businessman, declaring his arrest and detention by the police unlawful and unconstitutional. The court also fined the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) ₦10 million for the violation of HaÉ—ejia’s fundamental human rights. Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice Emeka Nwite criticised the police for raiding HaÉ—ejia’s home without a warrant, and detaining him without justification, describing the actions as a blatant breach of the law. “The invasion of the applicant’s home, his arrest without a warrant…

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Kaduna: el-Rufa’i Vs H’Assembly: Court adjourns to July 17 for hearing of respondents’ applications

Aminu Imam
el Rufa'i Vs H'Assembly

A Federal High Court, sitting in Kaduna, has adjourned to July 17th to hear the case filed by the former governor of the state, Nasir el-Rufa’i, against the State House of Assembly and the Attorney-General of the State. El-Rufa’i is challenging the House committee’s report which accused him of corruption. ?Recall that el-Rufa’i had on June 26th, filed a case at the Federal High Court Kaduna to challenge the probe report of the Kaduna State House of Assembly that indicted him for corruption during his eight years of administration. Among…

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Dollar video: Court stops Kano anti-graft agency from probing Ganduje

Aminu Imam

The Federal High Court in Kano yesterday, ruled that the Kano Public Compliant and Anti-Corruption Commission lacks the power to investigate the immediate-past state governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, over video clips allegedly showing him receiving dollars from a contractor as kickbacks. While delivering his judgment, the presiding judge, Justice Abdullahi Liman, said the offence is a federal offence that can be prosecuted by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC). Justice Liman, however, said the Kano anti-graft agency cannot investigate Ganduje. Meanwhile, speaking with newsmen shortly…

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Court extends order stopping Buhari, NBC from shutting down 53 broadcast stations

Aminu Imam

The Federal High Court, in Lagos, has extended its order stopping President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) from revoking the licenses of 53 broadcast stations in the country and shutting down the stations for allegedly failing to renew their licenses. Recall that on 29 August 2022, Justice Akintayo Aluko, had granted an order of interim injunction following the hearing of an argument on motion exparte by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, (SERAP), and Nigerian Guild of Editors, (NGE). The order was granted pending the hearing of the Motion…

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Lagos Federal High Court nullifies 6th Edition NBC Broadcasting Code

Aminu Imam

The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, on Thursday, declared as illegal the 6th edition of the National Broadcasting Code issued by the National Broadcasting Commission, (NBC). In reaching his decision, Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa said the proposed amendments 6th Edition of the National Broadcasting Code are ultra vires, incompetent null and void and perpetually restrained the NBC from implementing document. The court equally declared that the NBC does not have the power to prohibit exclusivity on and compel sub-licensing of privately acquired rights to television content as such is against…

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Court sacks ex-Speaker, Yakubu Dogara from House of Reps. over defection to APC

Aminu Imam

…”We will appeal against judgment” – Dogara’s lawyer A Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, has ordered a former Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, to vacate his seat as member representing Dass, Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Federal Constituency of Bauchi State. Justice Donatus Okorowo, in his ruling Friday, declared that having defected from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dogara was no longer qualified to occupy the seat by virtue of Section 68(1)(g) of the Constitution. Justice Okorowo aligned with the argument…

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N10.9bn properties seized from NSA Monguno’s military aide

Aminu Imam

…Includes 9 filling stations, gas plant, plazas Justice N.E. Maha, of the Federal High Court, on Monday, ordered the final forfeiture of 24 properties held by fronts and proxies of Major-General Mohammed Ja’afaru, the director of Finance in the Office of the National Security Adviser, (NSA), Babagana Monguno. All the assets were forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria. The Order was pursuant to a forfeiture application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, which had in May 2020 secured the forfeiture of the properties on an interim basis.…

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FG’s deduction from Federation Account to fund Police illegal – Court declares

Aminu Imam

…Orders refund of all deductions belonging to Rivers A Federal High Court in Abuja has proclaimed that the direct deduction of funds from the Federation Account to fund the Nigeria Police Force, (NPF), is illegal. The presiding judge, Ahmed Mohammed, via a judgement delivered yesterday, held that the provisions of section 4(1)(a), (b) of the Police Trust Fund Act 2019, requiring the deduction of 0.05 percent of any funds in the Federation Account and 0.005 percent of the net profit of companies operating in Nigeria to fund the Police are…

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