Tag: Nigerian Supreme Court

2027: S’Court reserves judgment in ADC leadership crisis

Aminu Imam
S'Court judgment on ADC crisis

The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in an appeal brought by former Senate President David Mark, who is seeking to resolve the protracted leadership crisis engulfing the African Democratic Congress (ADC). A five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba fixed the date for judgment after all parties adopted their final written addresses. The decision will be delivered at a later date to be communicated to the litigants. Mark, who leads one of the factions vying for control of the ADC, is challenging a March 12 ruling by the Court of…

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S’Court adjourns Kano Emirate dispute till 2027

Aminu Imam
Supreme Court Kano Emirate

The Supreme Court yesterday, adjourned the matter before it over the Kano Emirate dispute to April 19, 2027. Recall that the 15th Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero and the 16th Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi LamiÉ—o, have been locked in a legal dispute over the Kano Emirate traditional stool. The apex court held its first hearing in the long-running legal battle on Monday and immediately adjourned proceedings to April 19, 2027. The court’s decision comes after parties in the protracted dispute presented their preliminary arguments. The case was initiated…

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‘President has power to declare emergency rule in any state’ – S’Court

Aminu Imam
S'Court on emergency rule

In a significant ruling yesterday, the Supreme Court affirmed the President’s constitutional powers to declare a state of emergency in any state, emphasising the authority’s role in preventing a breakdown of law and order or a descent into chaos and anarchy. The apex court, in a split decision of 6-to-1, held that the President, during a state of emergency, can suspend elected officials, but that such suspensions must be for a limited period. In the lead majority judgment, the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, held that Section 305 of the…

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S’Court overrides Tinubu, affirms death sentence for Maryam Sanda

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S'Court overrides Tinubu

The Supreme Court has overturned the pardon granted by President Bola Tinubu to an Abuja-based housewife, Maryam Sanda. Recall that Sanda was sentenced to death by hanging in 2020 over the death of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, during a domestic dispute. However, President Tinubu recently reduced Sanda’s sentence to 12 years’ imprisonment on compassionate grounds, according to the presidency. In a judgement delivered yesterday, the Supreme Court, in a 4-to-1 split decision, affirmed the death sentence originally handed down by the Court of Appeal, Abuja. The Court of Appeal had…

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S’Court strikes out Osun state’s suit on withheld LG funds

Aminu Imam
S'Court strikes out

The Supreme Court has struck out the suit filed by the Osun government challenging the federal government’s withholding of statutory allocations meant for its 30 local government councils since March 2025. In a split decision of six to one, the apex court held that the Attorney-General of Osun has no legal right to institute the suit on behalf of the councils, noting that the elected chairmen are the juristic persons empowered to sue unless they expressly delegate such authority. The court, however, held that the Federal Government has no constitutional…

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Osinbajo accuses Supreme Court of inconsistency

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Osinbajo accuses S'Court

…Glorifies form over core justice Former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has faulted the Nigerian Supreme Court for what he described as inconsistency and excessive reliance on technicalities at the expense of substantive justice. Osinbajo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Professor of Law, made the call on Thursday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, during the second ‘Professor Yusuf Ali Annual Lecture“, organised by the Kwara State University, (KWASU), Malete. He argued that the primary objective of any justice system should be to serve the people and uphold fairness, not…

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13% derivation: Niger State drags FG to Supreme Court over exclusion 

Aminu Imam
Niger State drags FG

The Niger State government has filed a suit against the Federal Government at the Supreme Court, seeking to be included among beneficiaries of the 13 percent Derivation Fund allocated to states producing natural resources. In the originating summons filed by a legal team led by senior advocate Mohammed Ndarani, the state listed the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice as the sole defendant. The state is asking the apex court to determine whether it qualifies as a resource-producing state under Section 162(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as…

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One year after S’Court ruling, Govs.. still control ₦4.5tr LG funds – Report

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LG funds Report2

…FG insists Tinubu committed to autonomy Exactly one year after the Supreme Court ordered direct funding for Nigeria’s 774 local governments, state governors still maintain control over their allocations, defying the landmark ruling and frustrating efforts to strengthen grassroots governance. A recent report revealed that between July 2024 and June 2025, local councils received about ₦4.5 trillion from the Federation Account, yet the funds continued to pass through state governments rather than going directly to local government accounts as the Supreme Court directed. The apex court had declared the use…

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‘States can’t spend LG funds’ – FG to Supreme Court

Aminu Imam
FG to Supreme Court

…Dismiss Osun’s suit The Federal Government has urged the Supreme Court to dismiss a suit filed by the Osun State Government over the release of local government (LG) allocations, insisting that no State has the right to control or spend funds meant for LGs. In its response to the case (Suit No: SC/CV/379/2025), the FG argued that Osun’s request to access LG funds for health and education violates the Supreme Court’s July 2024 ruling, which mandates direct payment of LG allocations from the Federation Account to elected councils. In an…

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S’Court ends 19-year Gwandu Emirate dispute, rejects Jokolo’s reinstatement

Aminu Imam
S'Court on Gwandu Emirate

The Supreme Court yesterday brought an end to a nearly two-decade legal battle over the Gwandu Emirate throne, nullifying the reinstatement of Al-Mustapha Haruna Jokolo as the 19th Emir of Gwandu. In a landmark judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, the apex court ruled that the Kebbi State High Court had no jurisdiction to entertain the suit filed by Jokolo because he failed to exhaust the internal dispute resolution mechanisms provided under the Kebbi State Chiefs (Appointment and Deposition) Law. The court held that under Section 5(4) of the law,…

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