Legal Affairs
Respect int’l community, release Nnamdi Kanu forthwith, HURIWA tells Buhari
The Federal High Court Sitting in Awka, Anambra State, Per: Honourable Justice H. A. Nganjiwa of Court No. 1, this week, delivered a landmark Judgement in a Fundamental Rights Enforcement Suit filed in Suit No: FHC/AWK/CS/56/2021 between Nnamdi Kanu’s lead Counsel Ifeanyi Ejiofor against the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria including the Department of State Services in which the court said it was unconstitutional the invasion of the Country home of the Lawyer to the detained leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor and the extrajudicial execution of his Personal Assistant in Anambra State.
Leading civil Rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), applauded the Judge of the Federal High Court for restoring faith and confidence of the common man in the Courts of competent jurisdictions as the last hope of the masses just as the Rights group has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the affected segments of the Armed Forces whose operatives carried out the illegal attempt to kill the lawyer to comply totally to the decision of the Court of law. HURIWA wants those indicted security operatives who undertook the brutal and criminal invasion to be identified and judicially sanctioned.
HURIWA has also asked President Muhammadu Buhari to respect the highly regarded Human Rights body within the United Nations Secretariat that has reached a determination that the abduction from Kenya of the detained leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra was unconstitutional and amounted to the infliction of physical, psychological and emotional torture just as the United Nations body has consequently directed that Nnamdi Kanu who is being detained under inhumane and treacherously barbaric environment be freed without further breach of his constitutionally guaranteed fundamental human rights. HURIWA said the disrespect to this directive means that in 2023 after President Muhammadu Buhari has lost his diplomatic immunity he will inevitably be arrested in any part of the World and dragged before the International Criminal Court just like erstwhile Liverian war time leader Charles Taylor and prosecuted for these crimes against humanity if his administration fails to remedy them now as instructed by the UN.
Citing reports from the Federal High Court, the National Coordinator of Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, affirmed that this landmark Judgement delivered in the morning of 22ndday of July 2022, the Learned Erudite Judge held and consequently, declared the brutal invasion of Mr. Ejiofor’s ancestral home in Oraifite on the 6th day of June 2021, by the agents of the Nigeria Police Force, the DSS, the Nigerian Army and Chukwuka Chizorom Ofoegbu oppressive, and gross violation of his rights to life, dignity of human person, fair hearing, right to private and family life, etc.
HURIWA said that His Lordship further declared as illegal, oppressive and unlawful, the taking away and subsequent burning of Mr. Ejiofor’s Toyota Camry Car with Registration No. YAB 60 CB together with the corpse of Mr. Samuel Okoro, and other vital documents and valuables seized from his house by the agents of the Nigeria Police Force, the DSS, the Nigerian Army and Chukwuka Chizorom Ofoegbu.
The Court further made Order and consequently, restrained the Nigeria Police Force, the DSS, the Nigerian Army and Chukwuka Chizorom Ofoegbu either directly or through their agents, privies, and howsoever called, from further harassing Mr. Ejiofor, threatening, and/or taking further steps in an attempt to terminate his life and/or destroying his properties.
His Lordship further restrained the Nigeria Police Force, the DSS, the Nigerian Army and Chukwuka Chizorom Ofoegbu either directly or through their agents, privies and howsoever called, from further harassing, intimidating, and/or threatening to illegally arrest and torture Mr. Ejiofor.
Besides HURIWA recalled that the Court further awarded against the Nigeria Police Force, the DSS, the Nigerian Army and Chukwuka Chizorom Ofoegbu jointly and severally, the sum of ₦100,000,000.00 (ONE HUNDRED MILLION NAIRA) as Compensatory and General Damages in Mr. Ejiofor’s favour, for the gross violation of his fundamental Rights. The Court also awarded against the Nigeria Police Force, the DSS, the Nigerian Army and Chukwuka Chizorom Ofoegbu, jointly and severally in Mr. Ejiofor’s favour, the sum of ₦5,000,000.00 (FIVE MILLION NAIRA) being the cost of his Toyota Camry car, which they burnt.
Also the Court further awarded the sum of ₦2,000,000.00 (TWO MILLION NAIRA), being the cost of the Suit in favour of Mr. Ejiofor. The Learned Judge further directed the Nigeria Police Force, the DSS, the Nigerian Army and Chukwuka Chizorom Ofoegbu, to issue Public Apology to Mr. Ejiofor in Two National Dailies, for the gross violation of his Fundamental Rights.
In further condemning the dastardly act of the Respondents/their Agents, His Lordship further directed the Inspector General of Police, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Director General of the DSS to immediately identify their personnel involved in the gruesome act and appropriately, sanction them in line with the extant laws.
HURIWA recalled that in summary, that on the 6th day of June 2021, being a Sunday, at about 2:30AM, Mr. Ejiofor’s peaceful home in Umunakwa Ifite, Oraifite, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra state, was invaded by the combined team of the Nigeria Police Force, the DSS, the Nigerian Army and the Civil Defense, during which murderous invasion, Mr. Ejiofor’s Personal Assistant (Mr. Samuel Okoro) was murdered in cold blood by those monsters in security uniforms. Those monsters did not stop at that, they proceeded to take delivery of Mr. Samuel Okoro’s corpse, dumped same in Mr. Ejiofor’s Toyota Camry Car booth, and abducted three of Mr. Ejiofor’s domestic staff, namely: Okafor Lawrence Ugochukwu (gardener),
Felix Okonkwo (driver), and Ikenna Chibuike (steward), before they hurriedly left. Mr. Ejiofor’s elder brother (Mr. Joel Ejiofor) was equally abducted in the process, but was later pushed out around Nnobi by the invading troops, before they left with Mr. Ejiofor’s domestic staff and the corpse of Mr. Samuel Okoro.
Relatedly, HURIWA recalled that the United Nations, UN Human Rights Council Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, has indicted both Nigeria and Kenya Governments for the arrest and extraordinary rendition, torture and continued detention of the Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, without due process.
UN therefore, asked Nigerian Government to, “immediate release Kanu unconditionally” and pay him adequate compensations for the arbitrary violation of his fundamental human rights.
It also recommended that Government officials responsible for the torture meted to the IPOB Leader be investigated and punished.
The UN body according to available body of information to HURIWA further directed Nigeria to report back within six months of the transmission of its opinions on Kanu’s matter, steps taken to comply with all the recommendations thereof.
HURIWA quoted the UN body to have referred the case of Kanu’s torture to Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment for further consideration
The UN Working Group also threatened to take further action to ensure the recommendations are complied with, noting that both Nigeria and Kenya are signatories to the Convention and should comply.
The 16-page report dated July 20, 2022 was adopted on April 4 by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention at its 93rd session, held between March 30 – April 8, 2022, HURIWA stated.
HURIWA has therefore asked President Muhammadu Buhari to order the immediate unconditional release of Mr Nnamdi Kanu who has been detained for a year following his illegal kidnapping by both Nigerian security forces and the security forces of Kenya in Nairobi.
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Relatives of the 13 wedding guests killed in Plateau State have condemned the State High Court’s decision to release 20 suspects on bail.
The victims were brutally murdered on June 12, 2025, when a mob attacked their bus in Mangun district, Mangu Local Government Area.
They were traveling from Kaduna State to attend a wedding in Qua’an Pan LGA before tragedy struck.
According to reports, the group lost their way and entered a volatile community already shaken by recent terrorist activity.
Local youths allegedly mistook them for bandits and launched a deadly assault, leaving 13 people dead on the spot.
Following the killings, security operatives arrested 21 suspects.
In an earlier court sitting, 20 of them were remanded at the Jos Correctional Center while investigations continued.
However, on Wednesday, August 20, Justice Nafisa Lawal Musa granted bail after a motion filed by defence counsel, Garba Pwul (SAN).
This ruling has triggered outrage among the families of the victims, who insist the development is a slap in the face of justice.
Mallam Abdullahi Tahir Balami, a relative of one of the deceased, condemned the court’s action.
Speaking to reporters, he described the ruling as suspicious and raised concerns about possible foul play.
“With this development, we are now questioning the commitment of the Plateau State government to justice,” Balami said.
“It is saddening that suspects in a multiple homicide case can be released on bail.”
Another relative, Mallam Ubale Anguwar Dantsoho, who lost several family members, also expressed anger.
He described the decision as shocking and warned that justice may never be served.
“How can suspects in a murder case be granted bail?” he asked. “It shows that our system is failing us.”
Maryam Usman, widow of the driver killed in the massacre, expressed her heartbreak.
She said she struggled to understand why suspects linked to such a crime would be freed.
“What kind of court is this?” she asked in despair. “Instead of justice, the court dashed our hopes. We no longer believe justice will come.”
Her words echoed the feelings of many families now convinced that the judiciary has abandoned them.
Human rights activists are also calling for urgent intervention from both the state and federal governments to ensure accountability.
The Plateau killings have become one of the most disturbing tragedies in recent months.
The case now highlights the growing tension between grieving families and a judicial system accused of ignoring victims.
The Court of Appeal in Sokoto has upheld the Federal High Court’s decision dismissing former Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle’s challenge over the confiscation of over 40 official vehicles seized from his residence after he left office in 2023.
Delivering its unanimous verdict on August 8, 2025, a three-member panel led by Justice A.M. Talba ruled that Matawalle failed to provide credible evidence proving personal ownership of the vehicles.
The court emphasized that the vehicles were government property, not private assets, and rejected his claim that the seizure violated his fundamental property rights.
According to Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal’s spokesman, Sulaiman Idris, the vehicles were recovered in June 2023 after Matawalle and his deputy ignored a five-day ultimatum to return them.
Following their refusal, the state government sought and obtained a court order, enabling police operatives to raid Matawalle’s residence and recover the vehicles.
Initially, Matawalle secured an interim ruling from the Federal High Court in Gusau for the vehicles to be returned to him.
He also filed a separate suit claiming the confiscation breached his fundamental rights.
However, the case was transferred to the Sokoto division of the Federal High Court, which dismissed his claims in December 2023, affirming that the vehicles remained state property.
Dissatisfied with the lower court’s ruling, Matawalle escalated the matter to the Court of Appeal.
The appellate court, however, upheld the Federal High Court’s decision, affirming that the police acted lawfully in investigating the alleged misappropriation and that the state government followed due process in retrieving the vehicles.
The court concluded that Matawalle’s claims lacked merit and could not shield him from investigation or potential prosecution.
The leadership crisis tearing the Labour Party apart appears to have reached a turning point as the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, struck out Julius Abure’s case against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), officially affirming that he is no longer the party’s National Chairman.
The court, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1523/2025, dismissed Abure’s suit due to a lack of jurisdiction, aligning with the Supreme Court’s earlier verdict on April 4, 2025 (Appeal No. SC/CV/56/2025), which voided all prior recognitions of his leadership.
However, while speaking on the judgment, Senator Nenadi Usman, the party’s Interim National Chairman, described the ruling as a clear victory for the rule of law.
“This decision removes every lingering doubt about Abure’s status. The chapter is closed. It’s time to put distractions behind us and rebuild the Labour Party into the disciplined, people-centred movement Nigerians deserve”, she said.
Also, INEC’s counter-affidavit in the case further solidified the court’s position, stressing that Abure’s tenure, along with that of the National Executive Committee, had expired in June 2024.
The commission also argued that the controversial March 27, 2024 “Nnewi National Convention” was invalid as it violated the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, INEC guidelines, and the Labour Party’s own constitution.
Senator Usman commended the electoral commission for its “clarity, courage, and institutional integrity” in presenting the facts and urged party members to “respect the supremacy of the Constitution and the authority of the courts.”
With bye-elections on the horizon and the 2027 general elections in sight, this ruling could mark the end of a year-long factional battle that has plagued the party.
The focus now shifts to uniting the Labour Party and preparing for the political challenges ahead.
On August 8, 2025, the Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja, upheld NNPC Ltd.’s appeal against the Federal High Court’s April 2023 judgement that annulled Senator Ifeanyi Araraume’s removal as non-executive Chairman of the NNPC Board and awarded him ₦5 billion in damages.
The Court of Appeal’s judgement spares NNPC Ltd a massive financial payout and removes a legal risk that could have invalidated all decisions of the Board since 2021.
The Appeal Court agreed to NNPC Ltd.’s position that the Federal High Court’s earlier decision was delivered in error, noting amongst others, that the claim was statute-barred.
This decision of the Court of Appeal secures governance stability for NNPC Ltd., sets a corporate governance precedent in Nigerian law, and upholds the validity of Board resolutions critical to the oil and gas industry’s investment and policy direction.
An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday cleared Miss Comfort Emmason of all charges related to unruly behavior and assaulting the flight crew aboard an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos.
Magistrate Olanrewaju Salami struck out the five-count charge following the withdrawal of the case by the police prosecution team.
During the hearing, prosecutor Oluwabunmi Adeitan informed the court of new developments that led to the decision to discontinue the case.
She submitted a formal application for its withdrawal, which the court accepted, effectively bringing the matter to a close.
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