News
Court Dismisses Nnamdi Kanu’s N50bn Suit Against FG
The Federal High Court in Abuja has thrown out a N50 billion lawsuit filed by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra, against the Federal Government.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, who gave the ruling on Thursday, said the case was struck out because it was not properly followed up.
When the case came up in court, no lawyer showed up for either Kanu or the Federal Government.
Justice Ekwo pointed out that during the last hearing, Kanu had no legal representative, while the government was represented.
He also noted that the case had already been delayed three times for the same reason.
Since there was no one in court to continue the matter, the judge decided to strike it out.
Kanu had sued the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Attorney-General of the Federation over what he called a violation of his rights.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/462/2022, was filed after Kanu alleged that he was kidnapped in Kenya and illegally brought back to Nigeria.
He asked the court to decide “whether the way and manner in which the plaintiff was abducted in Kenya and extraordinarily renditioned to Nigeria is consistent with extant laws.”
He specifically mentioned, “the provisions of Article 12 (4) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap A9 laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and Article/Part 5 (a) of the African Charter’s principles and guidelines on human and peoples’ rights while countering terrorism in Africa.”
Kanu also wanted the court to rule on “whether by the operation of Section 15 of the Extradition Act Cap E25, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, the plaintiff can be competently/legally tried for offences stated in counts 1 to 14 of the 15-count amended charge.”
He claimed those charges were not the same as the ones he was extradited or brought back for.
In the original suit, Kanu sought 11 reliefs.
He asked the court to order his release from the Department of State Services’ custody and stop the government from continuing his trial in the current criminal case, FHC/ABJ/CR/383/2015, before Justice Binta Nyako.
He also asked for N100 million as compensation “as the cost of this action.”
However, in a notice of preliminary objection filed on June 27, 2022, the Federal Government and the AGF asked the court to dismiss the suit. They called it “an abuse of court process.”
They argued that Kanu had already filed a similar case before the Federal High Court in Umuahia, marked FHC/UM/CS/30/2022, with the same parties involved. This, they said, meant the Abuja court should not hear it again.
Earlier in the case, Kanu’s lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, informed the court that he had filed a notice to take over from Chief Mike Ozekhome, who originally filed the case on April 7, 2022.
The trial of former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, was on Monday stalled after two co-defendants failed to appear before a Federal High Court in Kaduna.
El-Rufai, who is standing trial on charges of alleged abuse of office, fraud, and financial misconduct filed by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), was present in court for the proceedings.
The former governor arrived at the court alongside officials of the ICPC, operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), and police personnel.
However, the court could not proceed with the case due to the absence of the two co-defendants, leading to an adjournment.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to June 28, 2026, for continuation of the hearing.
El-Rufai has consistently denied all allegations against him, while prosecutors allege that public funds were improperly released for projects that were either not executed or were irregularly handled during his tenure as governor.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Accord Party (AP), and three other political parties.
Justice Peter Lifu, who delivered the judgment, also directed that the order apply to the Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
The ruling stemmed from a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators.
In the suit, the plaintiffs asked the court to determine whether INEC has a constitutional obligation to deregister political parties that fail to meet the performance thresholds set out in Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, and INEC regulations.
According to the former legislators, the five political parties had consistently failed to meet the required constitutional benchmarks. These include winning at least 25 percent of votes in a state during a presidential election or securing at least one elective seat at the national, state, or local government level.
They further told the court that the ADC and the four other parties performed poorly in the 2023 general elections and subsequent by-elections, failing to secure seats across key tiers of government. The plaintiffs argued that the continued recognition of the parties is unlawful and undermines the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system.
On that basis, they urged the court to declare that INEC is duty-bound to deregister such parties and compel the commission to do so before preparations for the 2027 elections progress further. They also sought, and obtained, an order restraining the affected parties from participating in elections or engaging in political activities such as campaigns, rallies, and primaries.
Additionally, the suit sought an injunction barring INEC from recognizing or dealing with the parties in any official capacity.
The Borno State Government has declared Tuesday a public holiday to commorate the first day of the Islamic Calender Year, 1448 after Hijira.
The year 1448 AH (Anno Hegirae) is the current year in the Islamic calendar.
Since the Hijri calendar is based on lunar cycles, it is approximately 11 to 12 days shorter than the Gregorian calendar.
As a result, the year 1448 AH overlaps parts of both the 2026 and 2027 Gregorian calendar years.
In a statement released on Sunday, the state Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Usman Tar urged residents to use the period to rededicate themselves to peaceful co-existance and service to humanity and development.
The statement reads “This is to inform the general public that His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, CON, mni, FNSE, has declared Tuesday 1st Day of Muharram 1448 After Hijira (AH), which is equivalent to Tuesday 16th June 2026 as a Public Holiday to commerate the first day of the Islamic Calender Year 1448 (AH).
“All citizens are therefore enjoined to be faithful and reflect on this important date and rededicate themselves to peaceful co-existance and service to humanity and development of our dear state in particular” he stated.
Tar also enjoined citizens to embrace the virtues of unity, solidarity, togetherness, tolerance, justice, mercy and multiculturalism that are essential to ensuring unity in diversity and unity of mankind.
“The Government and good people of Borno are committed to the unity, prosperity and existence of Nigeria, and to projecting Nigeria’s good image among the comity of nations in a globalised universe” he noted.
The commissioner said Governor Zulum enjoined the people of the state to pray for a peaceful, plural democratic entity, calling on all communities and faith groups to live in harmony and togetherness.
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