The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta, has redeployed 11 judges including controversial Abuja High Court judge, Okon Abang.
Another prominent judge of the court affected by the redeployment is Justice Mohammed Liman of the Port Harcourt Division.
The Chief Judge, in a circular dated December 21, 2016, and addressed to “All Judges of Federal High Court,” redeployed Justice Liman from Port Harcourt to Enugu Division, and Justice Abang from Abuja to Asaba Division, Delta State, the Punch repored.
The newspaper stated that it obtained the circular from a lawyer close to the Chief Judge’s office. The affected judges are expected to resume in their new posts on January 30, 2017.
The Chief Judge gave “the recent developments in the court” as the reason for the posting. But no further explanation was given about what Auta meant by “recent developments”.
The posting could, however, be related to some controversial rulings given by Justice Abang in particular. Abang has been criticised for giving some dodgy rulings in cases involving the People Democratic Party, including those on the leadership crisis of the party, controversies over the party’s candidacy in Ondo and in Abia.
Most of his rulings about the crisis in the party were overturned and criticised by the Court of Appeal.
According to the circular, the posting would not affect the criminal cases the affected judges are currently handling.
It read in part, “In view of the fact some divisions are currently short of judges following the recent developments in the court, it has become necessary to take urgent steps to fill in existing vacancies.
“Affected judges are expected to resume in their new divisions by January 30, 2017.
“The judges shall continue with the hearing of criminal cases currently before them, as well as at least two witnesses have testified.”
Others affected include Justice S. Saidu (moved from Lagos to Port Harcourt); Justice A.O. Faji (from Asaba to Lagos); Justice R. M. Aikawa (from Sokoto to Lagos); Justice B.O. Quadri (from Port Harcourt to Abuja); and Justice Mallong Hoommuk (from Port Harcourt to Lafia).
The list also includes Justice K.K. Dagat (from Lagos to Kano); Justice Saleh Idrissa (Kano to Sokoto); Justice H.I.O. Oshomah (from Lafia to Port Harcourt) and Justice J.K. Omotosho) from Kano to Port Harcourt.