Category: Judiciary

“Supreme Court order on Naira irrelevant, non-binding” – Legal Opinion

Aminu Imam

The Supreme Court’s ruling restraining the Federal Government from implementing the February 10, 2023 deadline phase out of the old N1,000, N500, and N200 notes is irrelevant, non-binding and a distraction, according to a published legal opinion on the matter. “Neither the CBN nor deposit money banks were parties to the suit filed by three state governments (Kaduna, Kogi and Zamfara).  “The State governments simply took advantage of the fact that in matters purely between state and the FG, the Supreme Court can serve as the court of first and…

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Court acquits Diezani’s ally of $1.6bn fraud

Aminu Imam

The Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, has discharged and acquitted the Chairman of Atlantic Energy Drilling Concepts Nigeria Limited, Jide Omokore, who was accused of falsely obtaining over 7 million barrels of crude oil, valued at the sum of US$ 823, 075 from the Federal Government. Omokore, who is an ally of former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, was initially arraigned in 2016 by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. He was arraigned alongside Victor Briggs, Abiye Membere, and David Mbanefo on 15 counts of fraud. The trio were…

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2023: Court refuses to order INEC to remove Tinubu’s name from eligible presidential candidates’ list

Aminu Imam

The Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, has declined to issue an ‘order of mandamus’ to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove the name of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Tinubu, from the list of qualified candidates for the February 25 presidential election. The suit was brought before the court by a non-governmental organisation (NGO), under the aegis of the Incorporated Trustees of Kingdom Human Rights Foundation International. In a judgement that was delivered by Justice Binta Nyako yesterday, the court dismissed…

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Court vacates interim forfeiture order against Ekweremadu’s seized property

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, set aside the November 4, 2022 interim forfeiture order on 40 landed property linked to Senator Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice. Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a ruling, said he had found that the application for forfeiture filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was not brought in good faith and ought to be struck out. Justice Ekwo further held that the EFCC failed to disclose material facts on out the matter. He said though the anti-graft agency knew the predicament of Ekweremadu and his…

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Criminal Breach of Public Trust: 2 Shari’ah Court judges remanded in prison over ‘N580m theft’ meant for orphans in Kano

Aminu Imam

Two Shari’ah court judges have been remanded at a correctional centre over their alleged involvement in N580 million theft. The defendants, Bashir Kurawa, Sa’adatu Umar, Tijjani Abdullahi, Maryam Jibrin-Garba, Shamsu Sani, and Hussaina Imam, were charged with five counts of criminal conspiracy, criminal breach of trust, theft and forgery. Other defendants are: Sani Muhammad, Sani Buba-Aliyu, Bashir Baffa, Garzali Wada, Hadi Mu’azu, AlKasim Abdullahi, Yusuf Abdullahi, Mustapha Ibrahim, Jafar Ahmad, Adamu Balarabe, Aminu AbdulKadir, Abdullahi Zango and Garba Yusuf. The defendants were arraigned before Mustapha Sa’ad Datti, a Chief Magistrate…

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Court stops Lagos A-G, others from forcefully taking over market

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

An Ikeja High Court on Tuesday restrained the Office of Lagos Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, and Kosofe Local Government from forcefully taking over the Alaba Section of Mile 12 Market. Justice Latifat Oluyemi gave the interim injunction pending determination of an application before the court. Other respondents in the suit number ID/6464GCMW/2022, include Ikosi/Isheri Local Council Development Area, Dr Chris Onyekachi, Total Value Integrated Services Ltd. and Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development. The application was initiated by Incorporated Trustees of Orirere Community Leaders and Traders Association, Yeye…

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Money laundering: Court convicts Labour Party’s Doyin Okupe, gets 2-yr jail term  

Aminu Imam

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday convicted the Director-General of the Labour Party, LP’’s Presidential Campaign Council, Doyin Okupe, for violating the Money Laundering Act. Okupe was found guilty of receiving the sum of N240 million from the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki.  The presiding judge, Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, sentenced Okupe to two years imprisonment in the case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), who stated that the accused breached the Money Laundering Act.  Justice Ojukwu stated that Okupe was guilty in…

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Just In! Court convicts Peter Obi’s campaign DG, Doyin Okupe for money laundering

Aminu Imam

A Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted the Director-General of the Peter Obi presidential campaign, Doyin Okupe, for money laundering. Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Okupe in 2019 on a 59-count charge bordering on alleged money laundering and diversion of funds to the tune of N702 million. He was arraigned before Ijeoma Ojukwu, presiding judge, alongside two companies – Value Trust Investment Ltd and Abrahams Telecoms Ltd. Details to follow…

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High Court orders arrest, remand in prison of Army Chief, Farouk, Commandant, TRADOC Minna over contempt 

Aminu Imam

The High Court in Minna, Niger State, has issued a warrant of arrest for the Chief of Army Staff, General Farouk Yahaya, for alleged contempt of court on the orders of Justice Halima AbdulMalik. The warrant of arrest also affected the Commandant, Training and Doctrine Command, TRADOC, Minna, Major-General Stevenson Olugbenga Olabanji. The State’s Chief Judge, AbdulMalik, stated that the order followed the hearing of a case brought before the court, pursuant to Order 42, Rule 10 of the Niger State High Court Civil Procedure 2018. Justice AbdulMalik declared that,…

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“Judiciary yet to be truly independent” – CJN

Aminu Imam

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, has disclosed that the Nigerian Judiciary is “yet to be free or truly independent” as the third arm of government. Justice Ariwoola made the disclosure in a speech he delivered to mark the commencement of the court’s 2022/23 Legal Year and swearing-in of newly conferred Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), yesterday. According to the CJN, while the Judiciary “to a very large extent, is independent in conducting its affairs and taking decisions on matters before it without any extraneous influence, the…

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