By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
The Federal High Court of Nigeria was on Monday thrown into mourning as it lost one of its judges, Justice Ibrahim Watila of Abeokuta Division.
The news about his death spread across the divisions of the Federal High Court. Reports from Abuja revealed that activities at the Federal High Court (FHC), Abuja had been paralysed when the death of Justice Ibrahim Watila of the Abeokuta was heard.
The news of the judge’s death filtered out at the Abuja Division of the FHC early in the morning as court workers, lawyers and litigants came in for the day’s business.
The cause of his death could not immediately be made known.
Most of the judges did not sit due to the unfortunate event to honour their departed colleague.
According to reports, Justice Watila in a judgement he delivered on December 4, 2020, held that provision of legal services are essential services.
Delivering the judgment in suit No. FHC/AB/FHR/57/20 between Olumide Babalola and the Attorney General of the Federation, the court held that “having stated this, I have no choice but to firmly hold that Article 1(7) of the COVID-19 Regulation is plain and unambiguous as to what are and what are not essential services is. Legal service with the context of the Regulation is essential service”.
According to reports from Abuja, the news of the judge’s death affected many court sitting, including the trial of a former Minister in the President Goodluck Jonathan-led government, Tanimu Turaki before Justice Inyang Ekwo.
The former Minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs between 2013 and 2015, Tanimu Turaki, who also served as supervising Minister of Labour from 2014 to 2015 under Jonathan’s government
is facing a money laundering charge involving about N854 million.
The EFCC had, on May 4, docked the ex-minister alongside his former Special Assistant, Sampson Okpetu, and two firms; Samtee Essentials Limited and Pasco Investment Limited, on 16 counts of money laundering.
Turaki and Okpetu pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The Commission had alleged that the defendants used the companies to launder funds totaling about N845 million stolen from the two ministries where the minister held sway under the then administration.
Also stalled due to the reports of the death of Justice Watila is the trial of the Convener of #RevolutionNow Movement, Omoyele Sowore and his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare, before Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu.
The two defendants are being tried by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) on offences bordering on treasonable felony.
Another case that could not proceed before Justice Okon Abang was the trial of Faisal Maina, the son of Abdulrasheed Maina, former Chiarman, defunct Pension Reformed Task Team (PRTT).
Faisal is being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside his father on money laundering charges.