Shortage of Judges: Justice Abang, Liman transferred

The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, has approved the redeployment of 11 judges of various divisions of the court. Justice Okon Abang of the Abuja Division, who has handled several controversial cases and Justice Mohammed Liman of the Port Harcourt Division, who was among the judges to be picked up […]

The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, has approved the redeployment of 11 judges of various divisions of the court.

Justice Okon Abang of the Abuja Division, who has handled several controversial cases and Justice Mohammed Liman of the Port Harcourt Division, who was among the judges to be picked up by the Department of State Services in October last year, are among the judges affected.

In a circular dated December 21, 2016 and addressed to “All Judges of Federal High Court,” Justice Liman was redeployed from Port Harcourt to Enugu Division, and Justice Abang redeployed from Abuja to Asaba Division, Delta State.

It read in part, “In view of the fact some divisions are currently short of judges following the recent developments in the court, it has become necessary to take urgent steps to fill in existing vacancies.
“Affected judges are expected to resume in their new divisions by January 30, 2017.

“The judges shall continue with the hearing of criminal cases currently before them, as well as at least two witnesses have testified.”

Others affected include Justice S. Saidu (moved from Lagos to Port Harcourt); Justice A.O. Faji (from Asaba to Lagos); Justice R. M. Aikawa (from Sokoto to Lagos); Justice B.O. Quadri (from Port Harcourt to Abuja); and Justice Mallong Hoommuk (from Port Harcourt to Lafia).

Others are, Justice K.K. Dagat (from Lagos to Kano); Justice Saleh Idrissa (Kano to Sokoto); Justice H.I.O. Oshomah (from Lafia to Port Harcourt) and Justice J.K. Omotosho) from Kano to Port Harcourt.