2025: Overturned presidential pardon, reform in judges’ punishment, Kanu’s conviction shaped judiciary

There were major reforms, events and constitutional rulings that shaped Nigeria’s judiciary in 2025. Some of the timeline for these key judicial developments are presented below.   Overturned presidential pardon The verdict of the Supreme Court overturning the presidential pardon granted to murder convict, Maryam Sanda, created divided opinions in the country. Maryam was among […]

There were major reforms, events and constitutional rulings that shaped Nigeria’s judiciary in 2025. Some of the timeline for these key judicial developments are presented below.

 

Overturned presidential pardon

The verdict of the Supreme Court overturning the presidential pardon granted to murder convict, Maryam Sanda, created divided opinions in the country.

Maryam was among the list of persons who, in October, benefitted from the final list of convicts whose sentences were reduced, and hers to 12 years in prison, by President Bola Tinubu under the presidential prerogative of mercy, after public outcry forced two withdrawals and updates on the list.

However, the Supreme Court, in a split decision of four-to-one on Friday, affirmed the death sentence handed to Maryam by the Court of Appeal, Abuja, which upheld the decision of an FCT High Court which sentenced her to death by hanging.

• Man denies killing son, says he wrongly buried him
• Forged laws, fading norms, and the burden of leadership accountability

Supreme Court’s verdict on emergency rule in Rivers stirred reactions

In a landmark judgment on December 15, the Supreme Court clarified the scope of presidential power to declare a state of emergency in the suit involving governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the federal government over the Rivers State crisis.

In a split of six-to-one on Monday, the apex court held that it lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the action as the governors lacked the locus standi having not been directly affected by Rivers State.

However, in a “considered discussion”, the court affirmed the constitutional principle that, under emergency, the president had the temporary powers to suspend institutions and bring measures to restore normalcy.

But in a minority judgement, Justice Obande Ogbuinya, in his dissenting judgement, held that the case succeeded in part, which was that the president had the powers to declare a state of emergency, but could not use such powers as a tool to suspend elected state officials, including governors, deputy governors and members of parliament; even temporarily.

Some analysts warned it could centralise power and weaken Nigeria’s federal structure if misused, while others argued that it was a well-founded verdict based on the constitution.

 

Reform sought to punish judges with outright sack

The proposal adopted in December by the National Judicial Council (NJC) under Chief Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun to adopt new rules to replace the punishment of suspension with outright dismissal for judicial officers indicted for serious misconduct continued to draw muted concerns among judicial followers.

However, many saw this as a means of enhancing judicial accountability and discipline.

 

Court ordered Senator Natasha’s reinstatement

After months of controversy over the suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Senate, a Federal High Court in Abuja, on July 4, ordered her reinstatement. In her judgement, Justice Binta Nyako held that the six-month suspension imposed on her was “excessive” considering that her constituents were denied representation for a prolonged period.

The judge held that the provisions of Chapter 8 of the Senate Standing Rules and Section 14 of the Legislative Houses, Powers & and Privileges Act, were overreaching for failing to explain the maximum period a lawmaker could be suspended.

Justice Binta fined Natasha N5m for contempt by publishing a satirical apology to the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on her Facebook page on April 7.

 

Dangote vs PENGASSAN, NUPENG

On September 29, the National Industrial Court in Abuja made an intervention in the dispute between industrialist, Aliko Dangote, against the Petroleum, Natural Gas Workers Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) over the planned shut down of supply stations following the alleged sack of 800 workers.

As a result, the matter was viewed as capable of sabotaging the country’s economy. The court issued “an interim injunction restraining the 1st Defendant (NNPCL), its members, agents, servants, privies, representatives, assigns or whatsoever and howsoever called from calling or directing the halt of crude and gas supply to the claimant with a view to crippling, blocking, blocking roads or obstructing the flow of vehicular movement, shutting down operations of the claimant or licensees of the 2nd to 4th Defendants named in the 1st Defendant’s directives dated September 26, 2025, or by any means frustrating the businesses/activities of the claimant/applicant pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.”

 

Court declares Utomi’s shadow govt unconstitutional

A Federal High Court in Abuja, on September 29, declared as unconstitutional the shadow government which was proposed by the Prof Pat Utomi-led Big Tent Movement to checkmate the alleged excesses of the president in the absence of viable separation of powers and opposition.

Justice James Omotoshobo held that the proposed government was unconstitutional and alien to the country’s presidential system of government.

Justice Omotosho restrained the proponents of the shadow government, including the members of the Good Governance Portfolio, including Dele Farotimi, Oghene Momoh, Cheta Nwanze, Daniel Ikuonobe, Halima Ahmed, David Okonkwo and Obi Ajuga; and the council of economic advisers.

The court upheld the submission by the Department of State Services (DSS), which commenced the action, that Sections 1(1) and 1(2) and 14(2)(a) of the constitution upheld the supremacy of the constitution and that the sovereignty of the people and every governmental authority would be by the law.

 

Abba Kyari’s brothers ordered to face trial over assets

On October 29, the drug-related trial of suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari, on drug-related offences took a new turn when a Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed a no-case submission he and his brothers, Mohammed Baba and Ali, filed challenging their failure to declare assets.

Justice James Omotosho ordered the defendants in the 23-count charge brought by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to open their defence on the ownership of Plot 1927, Blue Fountain Estate, Karsana, Abuja; an estate on Linda Chalker Road, Asokoro Extension, Abuja, a plaza under construction adjacent to No.13, Balin Suleiman Street, behind NNPC Petrol Station, Guzape, Abuja; a plot of land covered by Certificate of Occupancy No: 000271 issued by Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, Borno State, and plot No, 33, Bama Road, GRA Extension, Maiduguri, Borno State, covered by Certificate No: 80/4319 issued by Borno State Government by deposing to a false affidavit at the Federal High Court, Maiduguri, in suit Number FHC/NG/CS/9/2022.

 

Court jailed Kanu to life in prison

On November 20, a Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to life in prison for terrorism and ordered his remand in protective custody.

Justice James Omotosho, in sentencing Kanu, said he considered the Christian teaching of forgiveness in not awarding the maximum death sentence provided by law.

While the judge reduced the highest sentence under counts one, two, four, five and six of the seven-count charge, the judge sentenced him to 20 years in prison without the option of fine on count three, while the court imposed a five-year jail term for the unlawful importation of a radio transmitter.

The judge ordered that the defendant be kept in protective custody in any part of the country, but not in Kuje prison, Abuja, and that the radio transmitter be forfeited to the federal government.

 

Supreme Court dismissed Osun govt’s suit against seizure of LG funds

After months of litigation over the non-recognition of the 30 local government election results conducted by the Osun State Government, which returned mainly Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates, the Supreme Court struck out the suit on grounds of jurisdiction.

In a split decision of six-to-one, the apex court panel held that the Attorney General of Osun State had no legal rights to institute the suit on behalf of the local governments as the chairmen who won the elections were the juristic persons to file the suit in the absence of authority to do so.

However, the panel held that the federal government had no power to withhold the local government’s funds under the Nigerian constitution.

In the lead judgement, Justice Mohammed Baba Idris said the hands of the federal government were soiled in the bid to seize the LG funds instead of channelling directly to their accounts.

The panel, which also dismissed the federal government’s contempt against Osun State, noted that they were in more contempt by not releasing the funds.

In a minority judgement, Justice Emmanuel Akomaye Agim disagreed with other justices and delivered a substantive judgement that the federal government’s action in withholding the LG funds breached the constitution.