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October 30, 2024
The report noted that Justice Amobeda, who had been based in Kano, was posted to Kogi in July 2024, yet he had remained in Kano.
The Federal High Court of Nigeria has said that no judge defied a transfer order issued by Chief Judge Justice John Tsoho.
SaharaReporters reported on Monday that a Federal High Court Judge Justice Simon Amobeda had refused to comply with a judicial transfer order to Kogi State, nearly three months after the directive from the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Tsoho.
The report noted that Justice Amobeda, who had been based in Kano, was posted to Kogi in July 2024, yet he had remained in Kano.
Justice Tsoho had issued a nationwide posting directive dated July 12, 2024, mandating all reassigned judges to report to their new divisions, which include major centres such as Abuja, Lagos, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Kano, Kwara, and Kogi.
In the directive, Justice Tsoho disclosed that all affected judges were to complete any remaining cases where defence hearings were closed before departing.
However, sources told SaharaReporters that Justice Amobeda’s decision not to report to Kogi was stirring discussions within the judiciary, especially following criticism surrounding one of his judgments that reportedly contained strict conditions.
But a statement signed by Dr. Catherine Oby Christopher, Director of Information/ICT, addressed the report, explaining that all judicial transfers were being conducted according to established protocols.
According to the statement, the court expressed its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the judicial system and ensuring that all judges adhere to their assignments.
The statement said contrary to the report, “Justice Simon Amobeda remains one of the Judges serving in the Kano Division of the Court”.
“He did not defy the posting made by the Chief Judge,” it said.
It continued, “It is instructive to state for the records, that the recent posting of Judges to various Divisions of the Federal High Court was communicated in a circular from the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, the Hon. Justice John Tsoho on July 12, 2024.
“In the circular, Justice Simon A. Amobeda was initially posted to Lokoja, Kogi State.”
Christopher said a subsequent circular dated August 9, 2024, instructed that Justice Amobeda, alongside six other Judges, should remain at their respective Judicial Divisions.
He said the reversal by the Chief Judge of the initial posting was as a result of certain administrative exigencies.
According to the statement, “Other Judges affected were: Hon. Justice M. G. Umar from Enugu to Kano; Justice R.N Aikawa from Kaduna to Katsina; Justice S.M Shuaibu; Evelyn N. Anyadike from Awka to Warri and Hon. Justice Isa Adama Dashen, from Yenagoa to Osogbo, which were equally reversed”.
Christopher noted that Justice Tsoho as the head of the Federal High Court of Nigeria possesses the authority to reverse administrative decisions regarding judicial postings, especially when continuity in case management is crucial to the administration of justice.
It said, “This clarification has become necessary to clear the alleged reportage surrounding Justice Amobeda’s status and to also demonstrate transparency and accountability in the process of judicial postings.”
Meanwhile, SaharaReporters learnt on Wednesday that a circular reversing the initial transfer of Justice Amobeda was not published.
“The reversal of Justice Amobeda’s transfer to Kogi was never published like the initial one transferring him and others,” one of SaharaReporters’ judicial sources said.
“He was doing dirty jobs for the All Progressives Congress in Kano so they told him to stay put. He was also the Judge that then Governor Ben Ayade (former Cross River State governor) used to prosecute Agba Jalingo for treason when he was in Calabar,” another source said.
In 2019, Agba Jalingo charged with treason by the police for allegedly criticising then Governor Ayade, and attempting to incite the people of the state against Ayade through his publication.
Jalingo, who is the Managing Editor of CrossRiverWatch, had accused Ayade of embezzling government funds to the tune of N500 million.