The Nigerian judiciary and justice sector kicked off in 2019 and ended with controversial cases that attracted national and even international attention. The election year saw political and other developments that shook the judiciary with unprecedented occurrences, such as the controversial retirement of former Chief Justice Walter Onnoghen, the trial…

The Federal Capital Territory High Court, on Tuesday, said it will return the case file involving a former Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, to the Chief Judge of the court, after the expiration of the 14 days allowed for Mr Adoke's detention. The court presided by Othman Musa…

The Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, on Monday said the federal government showed an 'act of mercy' to two illegally detained men by not appealing their bail orders. PREMIUM TIMES reported how the government last week released an activist, Omoyele Sowore and ex-National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki. Mr Sowore had…

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has again reacted to the federal government's position on the recent release of activist Omoyele Sowore and former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki. In a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Falana said the Nigerian government had no right to indefinitely detain a…

The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has said he is yet to receive a letter written to him by American lawmakers on the continued illegal detention of political activist, Omoyele Sowore. Mr Malami said in a statement on Sunday by his special assistant on media and public relations,…

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has reacted to the recent listing of the country by the United States government among nations tolerating religious persecution. In a statement on Sunday by Adebayo Oladeji, Special Assistant on Media and Communications to the CAN President, Samson Ayokunle, the association warned that discrimination…

President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday congratulated governors from the All Progressives Congress (APC) after their respective victories at the Supreme Court on Wednesday. In a statement by Mr Buhari's senior special assistant on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, the president acknowledged the role of the court in sustaining the mandate…

The Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld the elections of governors of eight states across the federation. The seven-member panel of the Supreme Court in its series of hearings and judgements delivered within five hours of the court session reaffirmed a majority of verdicts earlier given at the lower court while…

The Supreme Court on Wednesday affirmed the election of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State after dismissing two appeals against his election. In a decision by a seven-member panel of the apex court on Wednesday, the court said the cases brought by the applicants did not comply with the requirements…

The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed the case filed against the 2019 election of Dapo Abiodun as the governor of Ogun State. The court said on Wednesday that the applicant, Adekunle Akinlade of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), failed to prove his allegation against the governor. The court in a…

The Supreme Court on Wednesday affirmed a decision of the Court of Appeal which dismissed a petition by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the election of the Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai. Reiterating the point made by the appellate court on Wednesday, the Supreme Court in a unanimous decision…

The Supreme Court has ruled in favour of the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, against the decision of the Court of Appeal. PREMIUM TIMES reported how the appeal court ruled against the election tribunal in Oyo which dismissed a petition by the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Adebayo…

Despite repeated court orders for the release of Omoyele Sowore, the Attorney General of the Federation has said his office "needs further court directives to release him." Mr Malami said this in a statement on Monday in response to a 'request' for his office "to direct the release of Mr…

A federal High court in Lagos on Thursday found a former Abia State Governor, Orji Kalu, guilty of fraud. Justice Mohammed Idris who read the judgement is yet to pronounce the sentence for the offences for which Mr Kalu was convicted. The judge said Mr Kalu was guilty of the…

A former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, has written the general secretariat of INTERPOL in France to demand his release. INTERPOL arrested Mr Adoke, who is on trial for corruption in Nigeria, on November 11 in Dubai. He has been detained in the UAE since…

The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has given reasons why he engaged Trobell International for the recovery of $62 billion unremitted funds due to Nigeria from multinational companies. In a statement on Saturday, Mr Malami defended his controversial decision that has angered many Nigerians. The controversy that greeted…

The Nigerian government has provided a bond of $200 million to a court in the United Kingdom, as part of efforts to overturn the $9.2 billion judgement debt against it, in favour of an Irish firm, Process and Industrial Development (P&ID). The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of…

The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Thursday upheld the re-election of the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, at the 2019 general election. In a unanimous judgement by a five-member panel at the appellate court, led by A. O. Belgore, the court said the All Progressives Congress and its candidate,…

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has defended the decision of his office to approve payment of five per cent of recovered sums as commission to an international company, Trobell Limited. The contract is in respect of the government's effort to recover over $62 billion…

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday fixed February 25, 2020, to deliver judgement in the N400 million fraud charge against a former spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh. Justice Okon Abang on Tuesday fixed the date for judgement after taking arguments from lawyers in the…

The Federal High Court, Abuja Division, on Monday granted bail to the former pension boss, Abdulrasheed Maina, with a bond of N1 billion. Mr Maina was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before Justice Okon Abang for allegedly diverting public funds while he was head of Nigeria's pension…

Convicted rapists named in the sex offenders register will find it impossible to get jobs outside Nigeria or travel abroad, an official of Nigeria's Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), Juliana Joseph, has said. The register will be launched on Monday in Abuja as part of efforts by the Nigerian government,…

A federal judge on Thursday accused lawyers representing the former pension task force director, Abdulrasheed Maina, of threatening the court in a bid to delay his trial. Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, said one of the lawyers, Adeola Adedipe, had threatened the court by saying that…

The lawyer representing the detained publisher of Sahara Reporters, Femi Falana, has accused the State Security Service of insulting "the collective intelligence of Nigerians" by switching reasons for its continued violation of court orders for the release of Omoyele Sowore and others held by the agency. Mr Falana who is…

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has said thugs intimidated voters, election observers and journalists on a scale it said would affect the integrity of the governorship election in Kogi State. In its first preliminary report on the election, CDD lamented the wide use of ammunition and ballot box…