Judiciary - Abia ThinkTank News

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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By Abia ThinkTank

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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By Abia ThinkTank

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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By Abia ThinkTank

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:…

Apr

10

2026

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Abia JUSUN And The Need To Imbibe The Spirit Of Transparency And Patriotism – By Ebere Uzoukwa, Ph.D (SSA To Governor Otti On Public Affairs)

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

Abia JUSUN and the Need to Imbibe the Spirit of Transparency and Patriotism By Ebere Uzoukwa, PhD The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Abia State chapter, is once again in the spotlight. This time, it has embarked on a strike over the alleged non-payment of leave allowance, a development that has disrupted judicial activities and raised fresh concerns among stakeholders. The action, driven by the union’s leadership in the state, brings to the fore critical questions about accountability, transparency and the shared responsibility required to sustain progress in the public service. At a press briefing held at Government House,…

Feb

07

2026

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The Architects Of Decay: When Lawyers Betray The Bench – By Charles Ude, Esq

Judiciary, Columns/Opinions/Letters

The Architects of Decay: When Lawyers Betray the Bench By Charles Ude, Esq.Legal Practitioner, Author, and Social Critic The Judiciary Under Siege The judiciary has long been regarded as the "last hope of the common man." Today, however, this vital sanctuary is under threat, not from external forces, but from within. The greatest danger to justice comes not from litigants presenting their cases, but from lawyers who have sacrificed professional integrity for political influence and personal gain. The Art of Deception These lawyers go beyond ordinary practice; they weaponize the law. Under the guise of "vigorous advocacy," they inundate public…

Feb

05

2026

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Nnamdi Kanu Appeals Conviction, Faults Terrorism Trial

Judiciary, News Flash

Nnamdi Kanu Appeals Conviction, Faults Terr0rism Trial The detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, has filed a notice of appeal challenging his conviction and multiple sentences imposed by the Federal High Court in Abuja, insisting that the trial was riddled with fundamental legal errors and amounted to a miscarriage of justice. In the notice of appeal dated February 4, 2026, Kanu said he was appealing against his conviction and sentences on seven counts, including terrorism-related offences, for which he received five life sentences and additional prison terms after being found guilty on November 20, 2025. “I,…

Jan

28

2026

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President Tinubu Writes Senate, Seeks Amendment Of Court Of Appeal, High Court Acts

National Assembly, Judiciary, News Flash

Tinubu Writes Senate, Seeks Amendment Of Court Of Appeal, High Court Acts President Bola Tinubu has written the Senate, seeking the amendment of the Federal High Court Act to increase the statutory number of justices of the Federal High Court from 70 to 90. Tinubu has also written, requesting the amendment of the Court of Appeal Act to increase the number of Appeal Court judges from 70 to 110. In two letters to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio and read on Tuesday, Tinubu said that Section 1 (2) of the Federal High Court Act Cap F-12 Laws…