Some legal landmarks of 2014

1. Court affirms judicial autonomyJustice Ademola Adeniyi on January 13 ordered the 36 states and the FCT to effect the direct funding  of the judiciary as prescribed in sections 81(3), 121 (3) and 162 (9) of the 1999 Constitution.The order followed a suit by the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) challenging the piecemeal payment […]

1. Court affirms judicial autonomy
Justice Ademola Adeniyi on January 13 ordered the 36 states and the FCT to effect the direct funding  of the judiciary as prescribed in sections 81(3), 121 (3) and 162 (9) of the 1999 Constitution.
The order followed a suit by the Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) challenging the piecemeal payment of funds accruing to the judiciary from the consolidated revenue fund.
2. NJC suspends three judges
The National Judicial Council (NJC) on February 27 recommended for dismissal two judges -Justice Gladys Olotu of the Abuja Federal High Court and Justice U. A. Inyang of the FCT High Court for gross misconduct.
Justice Olotu was said to have failed to deliver judgment within the constitutional 90 days, while Inyang was found to have approved the execution of Garnishee proceedings despite an application for stay of execution and before delivering judgement on December 20, 2011.
Justice Olotu however sued the NJC challenging its recommendation. The suit is pending in an Abuja Federal High Court.
The NJC also suspended Justice Peter Agumagu of the Rivers State High Court on the grounds that his appointment by the state governor was illegal and didn’t comply with the provisions of Section 271 of the 1999 Constitution which stipulates that a state governor must appoint the Chief Judge on the recommendation of the NJC.
 3. Court advices defecting lawmakers to vacate seats
 37 members of the House of Representatives who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) were on March 31 advised by a Federal High Court in Abuja to honourably resign their seats having left the party that brought them to the assembly. Justice Ademola Adeniyi also issued a perpetual injunction restraining the lawmakers from changing the leadership of the House.
4. Justice Bulkachuwa becomes first female PCA
Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa was on April 17 sworn-in as the first female President of the Court of Appeal (PCA) since its inception in 1976. She became the 6th president of the court.
5. Justice Oputa and Ex-DG Law School pass on
On April 9 and May 4 the deaths of retired Supreme Court Judge, Justice Chukwudifu Oputa and former Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Dr. Kayode Jegede, were announced.
6. ECOWAS Court retires six Justices
The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice on June 12 retired six Justices who have served meritoriously. The Justices from the member states who bowed out are: Justices Awa Nana Daboya (Togo); Benfeito Ramos (Cape Verde); Hansine Donli (Nigeria); Anthony Benin (Ghana); Clotilde Medegan (Benin) and Eliam Potey (Cote d’Ivoire). They have served various terms from 2001 to 2014. Justice Soumani Sidibe of Niger died while on the Bench.
7. Moh’d Abacha acquitted of alleged N446bn fraud
 An FCT High Court on June 18 quashed the N446 billion money laundering charges against Mohammed Abacha, son of late Head of State General Sani Abacha.
 Justice Mamman Kolo discharged Abacha after the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) applied to discontinue the prosecution of the case, explaining that new facts have emerged in the case which necessitated the dropping of the charges.
8. Funsho Williams’ suspected killers freed
 Six suspects held over the murder of a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member, late Funsho Williams on July 27, 2006 were on July 1 discharged and acquitted by a Lagos High Court for want of diligent prosecution.
9. Court refuses bench warrant in Sylva trial
 Justice Ahmed Mohammed of an Abuja Federal High Court on July 4 refused an application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for bench warrant on two persons charged with abetting a N19.2 billion money laundering allegation against former governor of Bayelsa State Timipre Sylva.
10. Court refuses extradition request for Nigerian trafficking suspect
Justice Ahmed Mohammed of an Abuja Federal High Court on July 2 rejected an extradition request for prosecution by the Netherlands government through the Attorney General of the Federation for Nigerian female trafficking suspect, Kingsley Edegbe. He was accused of encouraging Nigerian girls to escape Dutch asylum for prostitution.
 11. Emir Sanusi’s suit struck out
 The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NIC), Abuja on July 4 struck out the suit by former governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Emir of Kano Sanusi Lamido Sanusi challenging his suspension over allegations of mismanagement and award of contracts in excess of CBN statutory N100 billion.
12. AMCON restrained from takeover of Ibru property
 Justice Ahmed Mohammed of an Abuja Federal High Court on July 10 restrained the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) from takeover of Aero Contractors Nigeria Limited over the suit by former Managing Director of Oceanic Bank, Cecilia Ibru challenging the confiscation of her assets.
13. JUSUN embark on strike over judicial autonomy
 The Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) on July 11 embarked on indefinite industrial action to push for the implementation of the order of a Federal High Court in Abuja on judicial autonomy. After a deadlock, the association latter signed an MOU between the minister, the Accountant General of the Federation, representatives of the National Judicial Council (NJC), the Federal Judicial Service Committee (FJSC) and the Ministry of Finance.
14. Alegeh emerges NBA president
Mr. Austen Alegeh (SAN) on July 15 became the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in a hotly contested election held in Abuja.
15. NBA conference threatened by Ebola virus
Despite calls by some lawyers for a shift of date from August 24 to 29 for the 40th Annual General Conference (AGC) of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) in Owerri, Imo State over the spread of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease which nearly marred the programme, the president, Okey Wali (SAN) finally pushed for the conference to hold as scheduled.
16. Industrial Court restrains FG from sacking doctors
 Justice Babatunde Adejumo of the National Industrial Court on August 26 restrained the federal government through the minister of health and chief medical directors in 37 health institutions in the country from terminating the appointments of doctors after they protested poor work packages.
17. Thugs attack Ekiti judges
 Courts in Ekiti State were on September 22 shut for two weeks on the orders of the state Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola, following attacks on two judges, including himself, by thugs alleged to be loyal to the governor, Ayodele Fayose.
18. Court sacks Fintiri, returns Ngilari as Adamawa gov
Justice Ademola Adeniyi of a Federal High Court in Abuja on October 8 ordered the removal of Ahmadu Fintiri as the Acting Governor of Adamawa State while directing the State’s Chief Judge to immediately swear in the former Deputy Governor, Bala Ngilari.
After the impeachment of his former boss Murtala Nyako, Ngilari had contended that having neither resigned nor was he impeached, he ought to replace Nyako as governor.
19. Former NBA president, Okey Wali, kidnapped in Rivers
Former president of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Mr. Okey Wali (SAN) was on October 11 kidnapped around Rumuologu Road, Ozuoba area of Obio/ Akpor Local Government Area. He was released on October 13.
20. Chibok schoolgirls: Court affirms right to peaceful protests
Justice Ebenezer Alade-Toyinbo of the FCT High Court on October 30 affirmed the right of citizens to hold peaceful protests as guaranteed by Section 48 of the 1999 Constitution. This followed a suit by the BringBackourGirls protesters who challenged a ban by then Police Commissioner Matthew Mbu to hold rallies in the FCT over the abduction of over 200 schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno State.
21. Court rules that FOI Act not binding on states
 Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Lagos has ruled that the 36 states across Nigeria are not bound by the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act.
22. Court refuses to stop Synagogue church inquest
 A  Lagos Federal High Court on November 4 dismissed a suit seeking to stop the ongoing inquest into the collapsed Synagogue building, which killed over 100 people in Lagos. Justice Ibrahim Buba dismissed the suit on the ground that it lacked merit.
23. Judge withdraws in Farouk Lawan’s $620,000 bribe trial
Justice Adebukola Banjoko of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on November 18 withdrew from the trial of Member, House of Representatives Farouk Lawan and Boniface Emenalo who were charged with alleged $620,000 bribe. The judge cited the allegation of bias on account of her alleged connection with businessman Femi Otedola, the complainant as her reason.
24. Court rejects London court ruling on Akingbola
A Lagos Federal High Court on November 17 ruled that the judgment of a London Court ordering former Managing Director of defunct Intercontinental Bank, Erastus Akingbola to pay Access Bank £654 million (N212.2 billion) is not enforceable in Nigeria.
25. Supreme Court sacks Taraba Acting Gov
The Supreme Court on November 21 sacked Garba Umar as Acting Governor of Taraba and ordered immediate swearing-in of Sani Danladi as substantive governor of the state.
26. Court strikes out charges against Nyanya bomb suspect
 Justice Ademola Adeniyi of an Abuja Federal High Court on November 24 struck out charges filed by the Inspector General of Police against the suspected mastermind of the April 14 bomb blast at the Nyanya motor park in Abuja, Sadiq Ogwuche, for want of diligent prosecution.
27. Encomiums as Mukhtar retires as CJN
Members of the bench, the bar and persons from all walks of life in a valedictory session on November 20 celebrated first female Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar who retired after clocking 70. Justice Mahmud Mohammed was sworn-in as the new CJN.
28. Court throws out PDP suit against five govs
Justice Gabriel Kolawole of an Abuja Federal High Court on December 11 struck out the suit by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking to declare vacant the seats of governors Murtala Nyako of Adamawa; Chibuike Amaechi, Rivers; Aliyu Wamakko, Sokoto; Rabiu Kwankwaso, Kano; and Abdulfatai Ahmed, Kwara who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
29. Court sets aside summons against Diezani
Justice Ahmed Mohammed of an Abuja Federal High Court on December 17 set aside the summons by the House of Representatives against the Minister of Petroleum Diezani Alison-Madueke over alleged charter of a private jet. The judge held that the resolution of the House of Representatives was not published either in the “Journal of the National Assembly or in the Official Gazette of the Government of the Federation as required in Section 88 (1) of the 1999 Constitution.”
30. 54 soldiers sentenced to death
An Army Court Marshal in Abuja on December 17 sentenced 54 soldiers to death for alleged mutiny, assault, cowardice and refusing to fight Boko Haram in the north-eastern part of the country.