The 2023 legal year was filled with various controversies mainly out of the general elections, even as cases involving the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele and leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and foreign cases involving Nigeria overshadowed the events in the judiciary.
Presidential election verdict
The verdict of the Presidential Election Petitions Court in Abuja led by Justice Haruna Tsammani on September 6 after dismissing the petitions of Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) was criticized by many observers.
The court held that the claims of non-transmission of election results, violence and ballot box snatching, drug-related forfeiture in the USA and lack of 25% score in the FCT brought against President Bola Tinubu lacked merit.
More accusations of impropriety were levelled at the judiciary on October 26 after a seven-member panel of the Supreme Court led by Justice Inyang Okoro upheld the verdict of the lower court and affirmed Tinubu’s election.
Governorship election verdicts
The outcome of the March 18 governorship elections has kept the Court of Appeal busy in many states of the federation where decisions have been made and further appeals at the Supreme Court are being awaited in many.
The appellate court affirmed the elections of governors Uba Sani (Kaduna); Dapo Abiodun (Ogun); Sherrif Oborevwori (Delta); Nasir Idris (Kebbi); Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi); Peter Mbah (Enugu); Simi Fubara (Rivers) and Alex Otti (Abia) among others.
The court also nullified the elections of governors Dauda Lawal (Zamfara); Kabiru Yusuf (Kano) and Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau).
However, the conflicting details as contained in the CTC of the judgment in the Kano State governorship appeal, which upheld the appeal and awarded N1m compensation, stirred controversy. The appellate court had said it was an error which did not invalidate its order removing Governor Yusuf.
Supreme Court retains old naira notes
Following weeks of controversy over the CBN plans to suspend the use of the old naira notes of N1000, N500 and N200 in favour of newly designed notes, the Supreme Court’s judgment on March 3, which was renewed indefinitely on November 29, helped calm frayed nerves.
Emefiele’s trial
The trial of the former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, was one of the longest-running sagas of the Nigerian judiciary in 2023.
Following his removal by President Bola Tinubu, the Department of State Services (DSS) first filed charges of illegal possession of firearms against Emefiele in July before a Federal High Court in Lagos after a general outcry that greeted his prolonged detention.
Emefiele was eventually charged before an FCT High Court on alleged 20-count charges of N9.6 billion procurement fraud. The charges were later amended to six counts valued at N1.6 billion by the EFCC on November 23 after which Emefiele was granted a N300 million bail, which he has since fulfilled.
Ekweremadu, P&ID, Diezani major foreign cases involving Nigeria
The trial and conviction of a former deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, the P&ID judgment and the trial of former Petroleum minister, Diezani Alison Madueke, represent some of the major foreign cases, which Nigerians followed extensively in relation to the Nigerian judiciary, where the proceedings had commenced.
Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, and one Dr Obinna Obeta, were on May 5 convicted by the Central Criminal Court in London of organ trafficking against a young Nigerian.
A UK Commercial Court had on October 23 refused the application by Process and Industrial (P&ID) seeking the sum of $11 billion against the Federal Government of Nigeria over the termination of a gas supply agreement.
The UK court on December 21 also refused a fresh appeal by P&ID seeking to impose a fee against Nigeria.
Diezani Alison-Madueke was charged by the National Crime Agency with alleged £100,000 bribery including chauffeur-driven cars, flights on private jets, luxury holidays and multiple London properties before the Westminster Magistrate Court in London. The case has been fixed for hearing in November 2025.
Mohbad’s murder trial
A nurse, Fisayo Ogedengbe, and Ayobani Sadiq were remanded by a Lagos Magistrate’s Court in the trial over the murder of hip hop artiste, Irelioluwa Aloba, alias Mohbad.
This is as the court granted N20m bail each to Mohbad’s ex-boss, Azez Fashola, aka Naira Marley and Lagos socialite, Balogun Eletu, aka Sam Larry.
Lawyer Raheem’s killer cop jailed for life
A Lagos State High Court on October 9 sentenced to death by hanging Assistant Superintend of Police (ASP) Drambi Vandi, who was found guilty of killing Lagos property lawyer, Bolanle Raheem.
Kanu’s release refused
The Supreme Court on December 15 refused outlawed IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu’s appeal to uphold the Court of Appeal’s quashing of charges against him and his release from detention.
The five-member panel of justices in their judgment held that although the process of Kanu’s extradition from Kenya was unlawful, that did not divest the courts from proceeding on his remaining seven count charges.
