Justice John Tsoho, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, has directed the immediate transfer of five judges across different judicial divisions. This decision was disclosed in a statement issued yesterday (18th of May, 2025) by Catherine Christopher, the Court’s Director of Information.
According to the statement, the redeployment affects the following judges: Justice M.G. Umar who will now serve in the Abuja Division, having previously been stationed in Enugu. Justice Tijjani Garba Ringim moves from Gombe to Yola, while Justice M.T. Segun-Bello, who formerly served in Abakaliki, has been posted to Enugu.
Justice Bala Khalifa-Mohammed Usman will transition from Yola to Awka, and Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed has been reassigned from Awka to Gombe.
Christopher emphasized that these Judges must finalize any pending Judgments at their current locations before assuming duties in their new postings.
Additionally, she noted that for the time being, Judges in the Abakaliki and Katsina Divisions will handle all ongoing and incoming matters until permanent replacements are announced.
In response to ongoing concerns, Christopher assured Court users that all proceedings previously overseen by Justice Inyang Ekwo will continue without interruption.
Justice Umar has been appointed to take over Justice Ekwo’s caseload following his suspension.
Justice Ekwo, who served at the Abuja Division, was suspended on April 30, 2025, for delivering a judgment on a matter that was still under consideration, without giving parties an opportunity to be heard.’
The National Judicial Council (NJC) found his conduct to be in breach of provisions outlined in Rules 3.1 and 3.3 of the Revised Code of Conduct (2016). In addition to a one-year suspension, Justice Ekwo was placed under a five-year supervisory watch and disqualified from any future elevation in the Judiciary.
Similarly, Justice Aminu Baffa Aliyu of the Zamfara Division has been suspended and placed on a three-year watch list. The NJC found that he interfered with the lawful operations of security agencies in a legal dispute involving the Zamfara State Government and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The Council criticized his failure to observe established legal precedents.
In a less severe action, Justice A.O. Awogboro of the Lagos Division received a formal warning following a complaint related to a case between Chief Adesanya Musediku and the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2.
Furthermore, the NJC disclosed that it has constituted nine investigative panels to probe 27 judicial officers facing various allegations. Out of 43 petitions reviewed, 29 were dismissed as baseless, while a number of others were put on hold pending ongoing legal proceedings.
One of the reviewed complaints involved Mahmud Aliyu, who challenged the 2022 judicial appointments in Zamfara. His petition was dismissed for lacking merit and being rooted in falsehood, leading to his disqualification from future judicial selections.
Additionally, another petition contesting the appointment of six Federal High Court judges in 2021 was rejected for not meeting the six-month filing window required by Section 11(1) of the Judicial Discipline Regulations.
The NJC concluded by announcing that public involvement will be incorporated in future judicial appointment processes to enhance transparency and accountability.
