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The Federal High Court of Nigeria has clarified that no Judge on the Bench of the court across the country defied the transfer order of the Chief Judge of the Court, Justice John Tsoho.
Rather, the court said, the Chief Judge reversed his earlier transfer order due to administrative exigencies.
The embattled Chief Judge of the Federal High Court had on Tuesday disclosed why he can’t transfer a suit on Rivers State political crisis to Port Harcourt from Abuja.
According to him, as the head of the court, he is believed to have the administrative power to move cases the same way he can move judges around the country.
Meanwhile, the clarification by the court followed a recent report published by an online platform, Sahara Reporters 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 court said, Justice Simon Amobeda remained one of the Judges serving in the Kano Division of the Court and did not defy the posting made by the Chief Judge.
The clarification, which was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Director of Information of the court, Dr Catherine Oby Christopher reads in part, “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 respective Judicial 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”, the statement added.
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