Judiciary - Abia ThinkTank News

Jul

16

2026

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By Abia ThinkTank

Court Bars FRSC Officials From State, LG Roads

Judiciary, News Flash

Court Bars FRSC Officials From State, LG Roads The Federal High Court sitting in Kano has ruled that the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) lacks the authority to operate on state and local government roads. The court has also declared the actions in Kano metropolis unlawful and a violation of citizens’ fundamental rights. Delivering judgment on Thursday in the case filed by Kano-based lawyer, Abba Hikima, Esq. against the FRSC, Hon. Justice M. S. Shuaibu held that the commission’s officers acted outside their jurisdiction when they stopped, questioned, and delayed motorists on township roads in July 2025. The court declared…

Jul

16

2026

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By Abia ThinkTank

Gbajabiamila Sue’s PFIPC’s Adeyemi For N15 Billion Over Alleged Defamation

Judiciary, Crime, News Flash

Gbajabiamila Sues PFIPC’s Adeyemi For N15 Billion Over Alleged Defamation Femi Gbajabiamila, chief of staff to President Bola Tinubu, has sued Adeniyi Adeyemi, director-general of the controversial presidential foreign intervention promotion council (PFIPC), for alleged defamation. In the suit filed before a Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court, Gbajabiamila is seeking N10 billion as general damages, N5 billion as aggravated damages, N200 million as the cost of the action, and an order compelling Adeyemi to publish a full retraction and apology in five national newspapers. BACKGROUNDOn July 7, Gbajabiamila threatened a N10 billion defamation suit against Adeyemi over allegations of…

Jul

16

2026

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By Abia ThinkTank

Appeal Court Reinstates INEC’s 2027 Election Timetable

Judiciary, News Flash, Politics

Appeal Court reinstates INEC’s 2027 election timetable The Court of Appeal in Abuja has restored the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections, overturning an earlier Federal High Court decision that invalidated key aspects of the electoral calendar. In a unanimous judgment delivered by a three-member panel on Thursday, the appellate court ruled in favour of INEC’s appeal, holding that the electoral commission acted within its legal authority in issuing timelines to guide political parties and other stakeholders ahead of the 2027 polls. The decision effectively nullifies the May 20 judgment of…

Jul

14

2026

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By Abia ThinkTank

Appeal Court Bars INEC From Recognising Mark-Led ADC Congresses

Judiciary, News Flash, Politics

Appeal Court Bars INEC From Recognising Mark-led ADC Congresses In a split decision of two-to-one, the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja on Monday affirmed the judgment restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising or participating in any state congresses organised by committees appointed by the Senator David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). A three-member panel of the appellate court, in a lead verdict delivered by Justice Okon Abang, said it found no reason to set aside the restraining order the Federal High Court in Abuja had issued against the Mark-led ADC on April…

Jul

02

2026

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By Abia ThinkTank

The Lokoja Ruling: Facts, Not Fury – By Pastor Prof Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Columns/Opinions/Letters, Judiciary, Politics

THE LOKOJA RULING: FACTS, NOT FURY I read a commentary driven more by political anger, ethnic and religious prejudice, and personal attacks than by a careful examination of the ruling. Then read another legal analysis by a respected luminary. I decided to spend some days studying the truth devoid of colorations. Here are the verifiable facts. The Federal High Court in Lokoja had earlier ordered INEC to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC. On 26 June 2026, Justice Isah Dashen set that judgment aside after the Peace Movement Party argued that it had previously submitted the disputed “Victory Sign” logo…

Jun

29

2026

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NDC – Setting Aside An Irregular Or Default Judgement Is Not Sitting On Appeal – It Is Upholding Fair Hearing And Constitutional Order – By Charles Ude, Esq

Columns/Opinions/Letters, Judiciary, Politics

NDC - SETTING ASIDE AN IRREGULAR OR DEFAULT JUDGMENT IS NOT SITTING ON APPEAL — IT IS UPHOLDING FAIR HEARING AND CONSTITUTIONAL ORDER The recent ruling by the Federal High Court, Lokoja (per Justice Isah Dashen), setting aside its own judgment of December 2025 , which had directed INEC to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) , does not undermine democracy. On the contrary, it strengthens it. It is important to rightly emphasis on the importance of finality and the doctrine of functus officio, it fundamentally misunderstands the legal position where the earlier judgment was either a default judgment or…

Jun

17

2026

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Appeal Court Suspends Execution Of Judgement Against ADC, 4 Others

Judiciary, News Flash, Politics

Appeal Court Suspends Execution Of Judgment Against ADC, 4 Others The Court of Appeal in Abuja has ordered the stay of execution of the judgment that directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties. In a unanimous decision, a three-member panel of the appellate court led by Justice A. B. Mohammed, berated Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja for flouting an order it made on May 22, which directed him to suspend proceedings before him. The appellate court held that Justice Lifu’s action amounted to…

Jun

06

2026

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Court Adjourns Suit Seeking Deregistration Of ADC, AA, Others Indefinitely

Judiciary, News Flash, Politics

Court Adjourns Suit Seeking Deregistration Of ADC, AA, Others Indefinitely The Federal High Court, Abuja Division, on Friday adjourned proceedings in the suit seeking the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party, Action Alliance (AA), and others indefinitely. Justice Peter Lifu had fixed Friday to deliver judgement in the suit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators against some political parties. However, the hearing in the case was stalled after the Accord Party secured a stay of proceedings from the Court of Appeal on May 29. At the commencement of the sitting, the…

May

18

2026

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DSS Picks Up El-Rufai After Court Grants Bail, Family Complains

Crime, FGN, Judiciary

DSS Picks Up El-Rufai After Court Grants Bail; Family Kicks The family of former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, on Monday, raised the alarm after the Department of State Services, DSS, officials allegedly took him into custody following a court sitting at the Federal High Court in Abuja. According to the family, the action was in apparent breach of existing court orders directing that he remain in the custody of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission ICPC. El-Rufai’s second wife, Hasiat, who addressed journalists outside the DSS facility, said the family was traumatized by the development…

Apr

15

2026

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Stop Politicizing Justice: JUSUN Must Not Turn Autonomy Into Anarchy- By Prof Chukwuemeka Ifegwu Eke

Abia State, Columns/Opinions/Letters, Good Governance, Judiciary

STOP POLITICIZING JUSTICE: JUSUN MUST NOT TURN AUTONOMY INTO ANARCHY Let us be very careful here. This is where labour agitation must not be allowed to slide into political theatre. Nobody is denying the legitimacy of judicial autonomy—it is constitutional, it is important, and it must be respected. But what must also be said clearly is this: Autonomy is not achieved by press conferences and prolonged shutdowns. It is achieved through structured implementation. DON’T POLITICIZE A SERIOUS INSTITUTIONAL ISSUE JUSUN should not allow itself to be used—knowingly or unknowingly—as a pressure tool in the wider political space.Because the truth is:…