The trial, which usually takes place at Kainji in Niger, was moved to the Federal High Court, FHC, in Abuja since the court is currently on Easter vacation.

The vacation, which commences on Tuesday, April 7, will end on April 13 and regular court sittings will resume on Tuesday, April 14, across all divisions of the court.

The 13 courts at the Abuja FHC is currently busy with terrorist cases.

Some of the trial judges are Justice Binta Nyako, Justice Emeka Nwite, Justice Musa Liman, Akpan Ekerete, among others.

While Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, led the team of the Federal Government’s lawyers before Justice Nyako, Aliyu Abubakar, the Director General, Legal Aide Council, led the team of lawyers for the 20 suspected terrorists before Nyako.

Some of the suspected terrorists in Nyako’s cause list include Hamat Modu, Isah Ali, Awal Bello, Shehu Bukar, Alhaji Kulle,, Mohammed Abacha Hassan, Aminami Mallum, Tasiu Yakubu, Abdullahi Ali, among others.

There were heavy security beef-up in and around the Abuja Federal High Court as all roads leading to the court were blocked by armed security personnel while police helicopter hovered around the Central Business District.

Source: NAN

READ ALSO: 

Resident doctors suspend strike, resume work Wednesday

Artemis 2 astronauts break record for travelling furthest from Earth

Troops intercept terrorists’ supplies, apprehend 16 suspects

UN chief warns against attacks on Iran’s civilian infrastructure

WEATHER FORECAST: NiMet predicts sunshine, cloudiness

Phyno, Olamide ignite Enugu Easter concert

Trump seizes on rescue of downed airman to recast unpopular Iran war

Old habits don’t retire as you grow older!

FCCPC and digital theft: Time to act, By Segun Adediran

Tinubu to inaugurate six legacy projects in Lagos

Four dead, eight injured in Lagos-Ibadan Expressway crash

Police officer, two others killed as security forces repel attacks

Iran, US receive plan to end hostilities, immediate ceasefire, source says

The post FG begins mass trial of suspected terrorists in Abuja appeared first on Frontpageng.

At the Thursday resumed hearing of the alleged money laundering case instituted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, against the former governor, Justice Maryann Anenih held that the court would have considered the application for the release of the defendant’s travel document if it were to be in its custody.

She said even if the request to retrieve the passport were to be granted, it would be of no effect since it was not in the custody of the FCT High Court but with the Federal High Court, before Justice Emeka Nwite.

The former governor is facing similar charges at both the FCT and Federal High Courts, Abuja.

He had filed an application, requesting for the release of his to enable him to travel out of the country on health grounds.

Counsel to the defendant, Joseph Daudu, SAN, had earlier submitted that the passport being requested was not in the custody of the court.

A review of the court’s record revealed that the applicant had previously been ordered to deposit his passport and other travel documents with the registry of the court.

However, upon further enquiry and search conducted by the court, it was discovered that the said passport was not presently in the custody of the court’s registry but with the Federal High Court.

The defendant, in his application, had also indicated that his travel documents were with the Federal High Court.

Justice Anenih, after the ruling, adjourned the case to October 8, 9; and November 13, 2025, for continuation of hearing.

The court had, on July 8, adjourned ruling on the defendant’s application to Thursday, July 17.

READ ALSO: FIBA U19: Nigeria lose to Hungary

Daudu, SAN, told the court that the application was dated 19th June, 2025 and filed on June 20, 2025.

“It seeks an order for the release of the 1st defendant/applicant’s international passport by the registrar to enable him to travel for medical attention,” he had said.

The counsel said the application was supported by an affidavit of 13 grounds in the face of the motion and supported by a 22 paragraphs affidavit deposed to by the applicant himself.

The EFCC Counsels had, however, filed a counter-affidavit, saying granting the request could delay further proceedings.

The post Yahaya Bello’s passport is with FHC, not with us -FCT High Court appeared first on Frontpageng.

The Chief Judge of FHC, Justice John Tsoho, made the announcement in a circular made available to newsmen on Sunday by the court’s Director of Information, Dr Catherine Christopher, in Abuja.

The CJ said though the vacation would end on April 28, the judges would formally resume sitting on April 29.

“This is pursuant to the provisions of Order 46, Rule 4 (C) of the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019 (as amended).

“The court resumes sitting on Tuesday, 29th April, 2025 in all Judicial Divisions,” he said.

Tsoho said during the vacation period, the Abuja, Lagos and Port-Harcourt Judicial Divisions would remain open to the public only for cases of extreme urgency.

READ ALSO: Borno: Gov Zulum speaks on suspected Boko Haram attack

“It is important to note that during the vacation, only matters relating to enforcement of fundamental rights; arrest or release of vessels and matters that concern dire national interest are to be entertained by vacation judges.”

According to the circular, Justices Emeka Nwite and Musa Sulaiman Liman will serve as vacation judges for Abuja judicial division while Justices Akintayo Aluko and Isaac I. Dipeolu will hold forth for Lagos division.

It said the Port Harcourt division would have Justices Phoebe Ayua and Adamu  Mohammed as vacation judges.

The statement advised vacation judges and heads of divisions to promptly refer to the chief judge all matters which they believe may require his urgent attention and directives.

Source: NAN

The post Easter: Federal High Court judges begin two weeks vacation appeared first on Frontpageng.

–Cargo remains under arrest

In a surprising twist of events, its decision delivered today, the Federal High Court in a surprising shift from the true nature of FirstBank’s claim held that the matter is not a maritime claim but rather, a simple case of debt recovery. This is quite surprising considering the fact that the order sought is to prevent further fraudulent sale of crude on the FPSO.

Shockingly, the court also held that the Arrest Order against the cargo, because it was exparte in nature, expired by effluxion of time within 14 days of its issuance.

READ ALSO: Federal varsity Iyin Ekiti: Tinubu appoints governing council, others

Aggrieved by the decision, FirstBank lodged an appeal against the decision of the FHC. Also, FirstBank filed an application for an injunction of the court against GHL, pending the determination of the appeal. The Cargoes of Crude Oil on the FPSO TAMARA TOKONI remain arrested.

While FirstBank has great respect for the courts, it strongly disagrees with the ruling, which, in our view, constitutes a miscarriage of justice.

FirstBank remains committed to protecting and securing the interest of its members and will relentlessly pursue justice against mischievous debtors seeking to use the machinery of the law to perpetuate mischief and evade their responsibility to offset outstanding obligations.

The post FirstBank files appeal appeared first on Frontpageng.

FHC, which was established on April 13, 1973, was formerly known as Federal Revenue Court.

It was established by the Federal Revenue Act 1973 (1973 No.13) and began with four judges with a president as its head.

The court was, however, renamed the “Federal High Court” by Section 228 (1) and 230 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1979.

While Honourable Justice S.O. Lambo was the first president of Federal Revenue Court and served between 1973 and 1975, Justice John Tsoho is the 10th and current Chief Judge of FHC.

The court, which has grown structurally over the years, presently has divisions in all the states of the federation, including Abuja, where its headquarters is located.

The FHC, as part of its drive for capacity and human development, recently launched an electronic filing platform.

An Abuja-based legal practitioner, Yunusa Ibrahim, described the 50 years of FHC in the justice delivery as a milestone in the administration of justice.

He said the court had contributed in no small measure to justice delivery through its several judgments and decisions.

According to Ibrahim, to facilitate the expeditious determination of civil cases and matters before the court, the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2000 was enacted by Justice Tsoho pursuant to Section 254 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

He said the rules had several innovative provisions for a just and expeditious disposition of cases.

Besides, Josephine Ijekhuemen, also a legal practitioner, said the importance of the court in Nigerian judiciary could not be over-emphasised.

She said due to its indispensable role, the new Electoral (Amendment) Act, 2022, conferred additional jurisdiction on the FHC to hear and determine pre-election complaints.

Justice Tsoho, while delivering a speech at a special court session to mark the commencement of the court’s 2022/2023 Legal Year on December 12, 2022, said in response to the enormous time-bound responsibility by the new Electoral Act, he constituted a special task force of judges for the swift disposal of pre-election matters.

Bearing in mind that Section 285 (10) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) provides that pre-election cases must be concluded within 180 days from the date of filing of the suit, the CJ drafted judges from their substantive bases to help complete all pre-election cases in other judicial divisions that had a glut of the cases ahead of the 2023 general elections.

He, therefore, commended the judges for their resilience and sheer determination to deliver justice within the time frame.

He also thanked the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, for approving an emergency fund to support the court in the assignment.

Tsoho, during one of the programmes for the 2022/2023 Legal Year, assured judges and staff of better welfare package.

The CJ said though the court had 76 judges across all its divisions nationwide, efforts would be made to recruit more judges.

He said the process for the appointment of judges to the Bench of the court would also be based on competence and merit.

According to him, only persons with intellectual ability with broad and sound knowledge would be considered for appointment to the Federal High Court Bench.

Justice Tsoho urged the judges to always discharge their duties with the fear of God.

Source: NAN

The post Federal High Court marks 50 years of justice delivery appeared first on Frontpageng.