The Rivers State High Court has ordered the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and International Container Terminal Services Nigeria Limited (ICTSI Nigeria Limited) to suspend all operations in respect of Berth 12 at the Federal Ocean Terminal, Onne Port Complex pending the determination of applications before the court.

The order was made by the High Court sitting in Port Harcourt on July 17, 2026 in suit no. NHC/1/CS/2025 filed by Deep Offshore Services Nigeria Limited against the NPA and ICTSI Nigeria Limited.

Counsel to the claimant, Ama Etuwewe, SAN, said the court ordered all parties to “stay all actions relating to the subject matter of this suit until the ruling on the motions after vacation.”
Etuwewe said the order was to maintain the status quo at Berth 12 pending determination of the pending applications which have been adjourned to 23 September 2026.

No party is allowed to enter into lease agreements, grant new rights or interests, build, take possession, commence development or do any act that may alter the existing state of affairs at the facility, the statement said.

Read Also: Scores Feared Dead as Boko Haram, ISWAP Fighters Clash in Lake Chad

He also warned investors, financial institutions, contractors, prospective lessees, buyers, government agencies and other stakeholders against entering into any transaction involving Berth 12 while the court order is still in force.

Etuwewe warned that any lease, assignment, financing arrangement, memorandum of understanding, sale, sublease or similar transaction entered into in breach of the subsisting order would be declared null and void and would confer no legal rights or protection on the parties involved.

He added that any wilful breach of the court’s order may attract contempt proceedings against the defaulters and attendant legal consequences under the Nigerian law.

The senior advocate urged members of the public and all stakeholders to strictly comply with the court order and not to enter into any transactions touching and concerning Berth 12 until the pending applications are determined or the order varied by the court.

The post Court Freezes Activities at Onne Port Berth 12, Bars Parties from Further Transactions appeared first on TheNigerian.

Justice Baba Gana Ashigar, a retired judge of the Federal High Court, has died after a brief illness.

Ashigar reportedly died in Maiduguri, Borno State, in the late hours of July 25, 2026.

He was buried according to Islamic rites on July 26.

Dr Catherine Oby Christopher, the spokesperson for the Federal High Court, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Tuesday.

“The late judge was a distinguished jurist who served the judiciary with dedication and integrity,” Christopher said.

“Hon. Justice Baba Gana Ashigar, Rtd, was a great jurist who served with diligence, dedication, integrity and an unwavering commitment to the administration of justice,” the statement said.

Read Also: President Tinubu Receives Catholic Bishops in Abuja

Ashigar made significant contributions to the Bench and the legal profession throughout his judicial career, she said.

His considerable contributions to the Bench and to the legal profession will be fondly remembered by his colleagues, members of the outer Bar, court staff and all who had the privilege of working with him,” Christopher added.

The Federal High Court extended condolences to the family of the late judge and prayed for strength for them to bear the loss.

“The Chief Judge, the judges, management and staff of the Federal High Court, commiserate with his immediate family and pray that the Almighty God will grant them the strength and fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” the statement added.

The court also prayed for repose of the soul of Ashigar.

“May Almighty Allah forgive him his shortcomings and grant him Aljannatul Firdaus,” it added.

The post Retired Federal High Court Judge Passes Away appeared first on TheNigerian.

The Lagos State Special Offences Court, Ikeja has admitted in evidence extra-judicial statements allegedly made by the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

On Thursday, Justice Rahman Oshodi was quoted to have said that he dismissed the objections raised by Emefiele’s lawyers against the admissibility of the statements.

The court found that the statements were not confessional statements and therefore a trial-within-trial was not necessary.

Justice Oshodi held that before an extra-judicial statement can be treated as confessional, it must contain an unambiguous admission of the offences alleged against the maker.

The judge held that none of Emefiele’s statements could be construed as an admission of the facts in issue.

Read Also: FG Moves To Adopt 112 As Nigeria’s Single National Emergency Number

Thus, the court admitted as exhibits statements purportedly made by Emefiele on October 27, October 30, November 11, November 12 and November 13, 2023.

The case was adjourned to the 6th, 7th and 8th of October and 11th, 12th and 13th of November, 2026 for continuation of trial.

Emefiele is being prosecuted along with Henry Omoile on 19 counts bordering on abuse of office, receiving gratification, accepting gifts through agents, corruption and fraudulent property transactions involving about $4.5bn and ₦2.8bn.

Omoile is facing three charges of unlawful receipt of gifts in connection with transactions involving the CBN.

Both defendants have entered pleas of not guilty.

Emefiele’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo (SAN), had prayed the court to disregard the statements on the ground that they were obtained under oppression and torture while his client was in DSS custody.

But the prosecution, led by Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), argued that the statements were not confessional and there was no legal basis for a trial-within-trial.

Author:

The post Court Admits Emefiele’s EFCC Statements In Alleged $4.5 Billion Fraud Trial appeared first on TheNigerian.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has given former President Goodluck Jonathan the go-ahead to contest the 2027 presidential election.

The court, in its ruling on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, held that Jonathan was qualified to contest the election as a presidential contestant.

The judgement followed a suit filed by one Johnmary Jideobi who had asked the court to stop Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party as a candidate for the 2027 presidential poll.

Jideobi also sought an order of the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission from accepting, processing or publishing the name of Jonathan as a presidential candidate in the next general election.

The plaintiff appealed to the court to hold whether the former president was still competent to seek election into the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria having regard to Sections 1 ( 1 ) , ( 2 ) , ( 3 ) and 137 ( 3 ) of the 1999 Constitution.

Jonathan, who was president from 2010 to 2015, has been reported to have been linked with a possible return to the presidential race ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Jonathan Waiver of PDP Faction
The court ruling comes days after a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki reportedly offered Jonathan waiver to contest as the party’s sole presidential candidate.

The development had reignited fresh political debate over whether the former president could legally reenter the race after his previous term.

But in a ruling Tuesday, Justice Peter Lifu said Jonathan could challenge the election.

The ruling effectively removed a legal hurdle that could have barred the former president from contesting any political party ticket ahead of the 2027 poll.

Justice Lifu held that the former president was not disqualified from contesting the election.

Although the court did not immediately release the full details of the ruling, the decision has now placed Jonathan among potential figures who may shape the political calculations ahead of the next presidential election.

The post Breaking: Court Declares Goodluck Jonathan Eligible To Contest 2027 Presidential Election appeared first on TheNigerian.

The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, John Tsoho, reportedly spent several hours being questioned by members of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday regarding a substantial amount of money that was purportedly discovered in his wife’s hands.

Sahara Reporters was informed by a commission source that the interrogation came after the judge’s wife was stopped by EFCC agents while traveling.

According to the source, “the EFCC questioned Chief Judge Tsoho for hours on Tuesday regarding his wife’s cash haul.”

The development reportedly comes after the judge’s wife was stopped by EFCC agents on her way to Benue State.

She was later brought back to Abuja, where authorities reportedly found $160,000 in cash in her possession at the time of interception, according to those acquainted with the situation.

The funding source and the trip’s objective, however, have not yet been made clear.

On March 16, 2026, Justice Tsoho is scheduled to appear before the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) over accusations pertaining to asset disclosure.

Three bank accounts with United Bank for Africa and another with Access Bank were among the assets that the Chief Judge was accused of failing to report in a petition.

Public officials must disclose all assets, liabilities, and bank accounts, including domiciliary accounts, in accordance with Nigerian law.

The judge may face prosecution if the agency establishes a prima facie case.

Penalties for a conviction include a 10-year ban from public office and up to 10 years in prison.

The Chief Judge is still dedicated to working with the agency, according to a statement released by the Federal High Court’s Director of Information, Catherine Christopher.

According to the announcement, Justice Tsoho will appear with his attorney, Kanu Agabi, who is presently abroad for medical reasons.

According to the statement, “The Honourable Chief Judge remains fully committed to cooperating with the Code of Conduct Bureau in respect of its invitation.”

The court claims that Agabi has expressed a desire to go to the bureau with the Chief Judge when he returns to Nigeria.

The post EFCC Questions Federal High Court CJ Tsoho Over Wife’s $160,000 Cash Discovery appeared first on TheNigerian.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a N1 billion lawsuit filed against former President Muhammadu Buhari and former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele, concerning the hardships caused by the naira redesign policy.

The lawsuit, brought by lawyer Uthman Isa Tochukwu, alleged that the policy violated the plaintiff’s fundamental rights, including his freedom of movement and dignity. He claimed that the difficulties in accessing money from banks during the implementation of the policy in early 2023 had caused him significant hardship. The plaintiff sought N1 billion in damages from Buhari, Emefiele, the CBN, and two commercial banks.

However, during the court session on April 28, 2025, Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo ruled to dismiss the suit due to the plaintiff’s repeated absence from hearings since the case was filed in 2023. The court found that the plaintiff had abandoned the case and failed to provide any explanation or legal representation for his absences.

Counsel for Emefiele and the CBN, Chikelue Amasiani, highlighted the plaintiff’s lack of commitment to the case and requested the court to strike out the suit. The judge agreed with this request, stating that the case could be revived if the plaintiff showed more seriousness moving forward.

The post Court Dismisses N1 Billion Suit Against Buhari and Emefiele Over Naira Redesign Policy appeared first on TheNigerian.