Major judicial events of 2016
Armsgate trial begins The trial of persons indicted in the probe over alleged diversion of $2.1 billion arms procurement funds in the last administration of President Goodluck Jonathan begun earnestly with former NSA Col. Sambo Dasuki and PDP spokesman Olisa Metuh being charged before a an Abuja Federal High Court and an FCT High Court. […]
Armsgate trial begins
The trial of persons indicted in the probe over alleged diversion of $2.1 billion arms procurement funds in the last administration of President Goodluck Jonathan begun earnestly with former NSA Col. Sambo Dasuki and PDP spokesman Olisa Metuh being charged before a an Abuja Federal High Court and an FCT High Court. Several other individuals including the former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, and former minister of Finance and National Planning, Bashir Yuguda, were also charged.
Tompolo charged by EFCC
Also in January, the EFCC filed a 40 counts charge against former militant leader Government Ekpemupolo, popularly known as Tompolo, and a former Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Patrick Akpobolokemi. They were indicted in an alleged fraud of the sum of N45.9 billion over the acquisition of the site for the proposed Maritime University in Delta State. The Federal High Court in Lagos issued a bench warrant and freezing order against Tompolo, forcing security agencies to mount a fruitless manhunt for him in the creeks of the Delta.
Nnamdi Kanu, others arraigned on treason charges
On January 20, the federal government arraigned the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu alongside three other persons on charges of terrorism and treasonable felony. Kanu opposed the plans by the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to use screened witnessed to try him. The case was subsequently reassigned to four different judges.
Supreme Court decides gov’ship election appeals
Between January and February, the Supreme Court began to deliver judgments on the appeals against the verdicts of the Appeal Court on some governorship election petition tribunals. Governors Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia; Udom Emmanuel, Akwa Ibom; Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta; Dave Umahi, Ebonyi; Abiola Ajimobi, Oyo; Nyesom Wike, Rivers; Ibrahim Gaidam, Yobe among others were returned on the grounds that the allegations of irregularities were not proven as provided by the electoral act, and INEC Guidelines on the use of Card Readers. The apex court also dismissed suits against the governors of Bayelsa, Seriake Dickson; Kogi Yahaya Bello and Cross River, Ben Ayade among others.
Trial of senior military officers begins
In March, the EFCC filed charges against some serving and retired military officers over alleged diversion of billions of naira public funds to personal use. Some affected officers, if Col. Dasuki is included, are: (2) former Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh; (3) former Air Chief, AVM Mohammed Dikko Umar and (4) AVM Adesola Amosu.
Other officers who faced the judicial process include: AVM T. Omenyi (MD, NAF Holdings); AVM R.A. Ojuawo (Air Force Tactical Air Command, Makurdi); Col N. Ashinze (Special Military Assistant to former NSA Sambo Dasuki).
Saraki loses bid to stop trial
In April, a Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed an application by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to stop his trial for alleged false asset declaration before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in Abuja. Justice Abdul Kafarati ruled that the trial did not constitute a breach of his fundamental rights. The Supreme Court had also refused Saraki’s application challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal to try him.
Braithwaite, Justice Chukwu, Agbaje die
While the nation was grappling with the death of foremost lawyer and politician, Tunji Braithwaite in March, a judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Justice Evo Chukwu died in June after a brief illness aged 51. The news of the deaths of political activist in Rivers State, Ken Atsuete in August and human rights lawyer Fred Agbaje in November made it a year to forget for the nation’s judiciary.
Lawyer withdraws certificate suit against Buhari
After Justice Adeniyi Ademola dismissed an application by President Muhammadu Buhari to stay proceedings pending an appeal against mode of service in the suit by Barrister Nnamdi Nwokocha-Ahaiwe challenging his WASC certificate, the lawyer brought a notice of discontinuance of the suit, citing personal reasons. The judge subsequently struck out the suit.
Abia governor, Ikpeazu sacked
In June, a Federal High Court in Abuja asked Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to vacate his seat over alleged irregularities in his tax clearance certificate. The order followed a suit by a PDP governorship aspirant, Uche Ogah. A constitutional logjam was created with different pronouncements from other courts in the country as two other persons laid claim to the Abia Government House: Friday Nwosu and Alex Otti of the All Progressives Grand Alliance. The matter is now before the Supreme Court for final determination.
Sheriff, Makarfi’s unending legal battle
The contention between the Ali Modu Sheriff and Ahmed Makarfi factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the national chairmanship of the party instigated about 12 different suits and pronouncements before the courts in Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt throughout the year. The feud continued to the Appeal Court to the Supreme Court and largely affected the Ondo State Governorship election with no known candidate in the state three days to the election.
Mahmud becomes new NBA President
On August 1, results of the biennial Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) national elections filtered in after it was conducted for the first time through internet voting. Abubakar Balarabe Mahmud (SAN) scored 3,055 votes against his close rival, Joseph Kyari Gadzama (SAN), who scored 2,384 votes. Mahmud replaced Austin Alegeh (SAN).
Jibrin challenges his suspension in court
After the controversy generated by the allegation of House of Representatives Committee Chairman on Appropriations, Abdulmumin Jibrin, that the leadership is involved in ‘padding’ of the budget for ‘constituency projects’, he was suspended for 180 days. He subsequently went to an Abuja Federal High Court presided by Justice James Tsoho to challenge the ban.
Former minister convicted at CCT
In October, the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) convicted former minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Peter Orubebe, of alleged false asset declaration on a landed property, plot No. 2057 of Cadastral zone Asokoro, Abuja alleged to belong to him.
Judges arrested, charged to court
On October 8, the Department of State Services embarked on what it termed ‘sting operation’ targeting the homes of some senior judges across the country. Justices Sylvester Ngwuta and John Inyang Okoro of the Supreme Court; Justices Adeniyi Ademola and Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court in Abuja and Justice Mu’azu Pindiga of the High Court, Gombe were affected in the operation.
So far, Justices Ngwuta and Ademola have been arraigned before the court on charges of judicial misconduct, money laundering, illegal possession of multiple travel passports and firearms. The judges pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail.
Justice Onnoghen takes over as acting CJN
Following the retirement of Justice Mahmud Mohammed as the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) after clocking the mandatory age of 70, Justice Walter Nkanu Onnoghen was on November 11 sworn in by President Muhammadu Buhari as the new CJN.
The president observed that he was taking over at a very difficult time in the history of the judiciary following the charges against judges across the country. In his response Justice Onnoghen promised the support of the judiciary in the war against corruption.
Court orders release of Shi’ite leader, Zakzakky
On December 2, reprieve came the way of members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) as a Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Gabriel Kolawole ordered the release of its leader, Ibraheem Zakzaky and his wife, Zeenat, within 45 days.
The judge declared his continued detention by the DSS against his wish unconstitutional and awarded a cumulative sum of N50 million as damages and directed the Attorney General of the Federation to provide a new accommodation for the family in any place of their choice in Kaduna State or the northern region.
Arraignment of senior court officials stalled
The year ended as the expected arraignment of the Supreme Court’s Chief Registrar, Ahmed Gambo Saleh, the Director of Finance, Muhammed Abdulrahman Sharif and the Chief Accountant, Rilwanu Lawal, was stalled. The arraignments were twice stalled over absence of some of the defendants. The charges filed before an FCT High Court had yet to commence after two adjournments. The arraignment has now been fixed for February 7, 2017 for definite arraignment.