No judge defied Federal High Court Chief Judge’s order on transfer – FHC

The Federal High Court of Nigeria has clarified that the order of the Chief Judge of the Court, Justice John Tsoho, was not defied by any of the judges on the bench of the court across the country.

Rather, the court said that the earlier transfer order made by the Chief Judge was reversed due to administrative exigencies.

The clarification by the court followed a recent report published by an online platform titled, ‘Justice Amobeda defies Federal High Court Chief Judge’s transfer since June, refuses to leave Kano for Kogi’.

Contrary to the media report, the FHC said that Justice Simon Amobeda remained one of the hudges serving in the Kano Division of the court and did not defy the posting made by the Chief Judge.

The clarification was made in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Director of Information of the court, Dr Catherine Oby Christopher.

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Parts of the statement read, “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. However, a subsequent circular dated August 9, 2024, instructed that Justice Amobeda, alongside six other Judges should remain at their then respectiveJudicial Divisions.

“The reversal by the Chief Judge of the initial posting was as a result of certain administrative exigencies.

“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.

“Hon. Justice Tsoho as 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.

“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.

“We therefore urged members of the public to disregard that report by the online platform.

“One of the most significant responsibilities of journalists is to verify the accuracy of their reports and communicate same. We therefore advise Sahara Reporters to make it a practice of doing the same.”