The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Federal High Court

  • Ministerial slot: Abuja indigenes sue Jonathan

    Ministerial slot: Abuja indigenes sue Jonathan

    •Seek N1.310b damages 

    The indigenes of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja have sued President Goodluck Jonathan and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke, for failing to appoint them as ministers.

    The suit was filed at the Federal High Court, Abuja by the General Counsel of the Original Inhabitants Development Association of Abuja (OIDA), Mr. Musa Baba-Panya.

    It has OIDA President, Pastor Danladi Jeji, as the second plaintiff.

    The defendants are the President and the Attorney-General of the Federation.

    In the summons, the Abuja indigenes said they were seeking a declaration that the indigenes of FCT-Abuja were entitled to ministerial appointments.

    According to a statement by the Media Adviser, Sumner Shagari Sambo, OIDA also wanted a declaration that the continuous refusal, failure or default by previous and current presidents to appoint an indigene of FCT-Abuja as a minister was a flagrant violation of the rights of indigenes of FCT-Abuja.

    “We want a declaration that the continuous refusal, failure or default by previous and current presidents to appoint an indigene of FCT-Abuja as a minister, is a flagrant violation of the rights against discrimination against FCT-Abuja indigenes. Since 1999, our people have not been appointed, even as a personal assistant, in the presidency. Meanwhile, some states have two or more ministers and  senior presidential aides,” Baba-Panya said.

    The indigenes are seeking “an order compelling the President (first defendant) to the immediate appointment of an indigene of FCT-Abuja as a minister and an award of the sum of N50million per year since May 1999, being compensation and damages for the violation of the fundamental and constitutional rights of plaintiffs and indigenes of FCT-Abuja.”

    They also wanted an award of the sum of N500 million in exemplary damages.

    The plaintiffs wanted “a consequential order entrusting the compensatory damages/awards into a Trust Fund Account (in name of second  plaintiff) with the Central Bank of Nigeria for the benefit of all indigenes of FCT-Abuja and an award of the sum of N10million in legal costs.”

    Pastor Jeji said the group is also demanding “a public apology for all the years of deprivation and denials of our constitutional rights, entitlements and privileges in the  print and broadcast media.”

    The plaintiffs are seeking the determination of the case by the court on whether by the combined provisions of sections; 147(1) (3), 14(3), and 299 of the 1999 Constitution, the indigenes of FCT-Abuja are entitled to ministerial appointment into the Federal Executive Council.

    They wanted to know whether the continuous refusal, failure and default by previous and current presidents to appoint an indigene of FCT-Abuja as minister was tantamount to a flagrant violation of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and a breach of the rights of the indigenes of FCT-Abuja.

    The indigenes said: “The recent nomination of eight ministerial appointees sent to the Senate by President Jonathan without the inclusion of any Abuja indigene is an assault on our collective intelligence, especially when placed with the fact that our traditional and political leaders were promised a ministerial slot when they visited President Jonathan last year.”

    No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

  • Court sends suspected killers to prison

    Court sends suspected killers to prison

    Four persons were yesterday arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja by the Federal Government over their alleged complicity in the February 1, 2014 murder of a Kaduna-based Islamic cleric, Sheik Auwal Adam Albani, his wife and 18-year old son.

    They include: Yakubu Abdullahi (alias Alhaji Bala), Yasir Salihu (alias Dan Birnin), Bilyaminu Usman (alias Bilya) and Musa Abubakar (alias Mallam).

    They were arraigned before Justice Gabriel Kolawole on a seven-count charge in which they were accused of conspiracy and murder of the prominent cleric and leader of the Sallafiyya Movement in Zaria, Kaduna State, Sheik Albani, his wife, Umma Abdul-Bari and son, Abdullahi with two AK-47 rifles.

  • Court to hear Makinde’s candidacy suit Mar 9

    Court to hear Makinde’s candidacy suit Mar 9

    A Federal High Court in Ibadan has adjourned till March 9 to hear a case challenging the candidacy of Seyi Makinde as the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Oyo State.

    The suit was filed by Olugbenga Bayode and Rasaq Adegboyega, who claimed to be SDP members.

    In the suit by their counsel, Adenle Adeloye, the plaintiffs alleged that Makinde was not the “proper” candidate to represent the SDP in the election because he was not part of the primary conducted last December 6.

    They further claimed that Aworinde Oluwafemi Samson emerged as the governorship candidate in the December 6 primary.

    At the proceedings yesterday, Makinde’s counsel Yaqub Fadare told the court that the defence had filed necessary documents asking the court to dismiss the suit.

    SDP’s counsel Idowu Oyeleke urged the court to strike out the case, saying the party’s defence team had filed notice of preliminary objection, written address, statement of defence and other necessary documents.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC’s) counsel, Omoniyi Fayanju, told the court that the screening of all the candidates were done at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, saying he would connect with the Legal Department at the headquarters to obtain necessary documents.

  • Restoring prisoners’ rights

    Restoring prisoners’ rights

    •The order by the Federal High Court that prison inmates be allowed voting rights is commendable

     

    The order by the Federal High Court sitting in Benin-City, Edo State, that inmates of the Nigerian prisons should be enabled to vote at elections is indeed a landmark in enforcing the fundamental rights of all Nigerians. As Justice Mohammed Lima who heard the matter pointed out, it is unconstitutional and illegal to deprive any Nigerian of the right to vote or be voted for.

    It is unfortunate that the ruling came so late in the day. It ought to have occurred to all involved in the administration of justice and conducting elections that being remanded in or jailed in any of the prisons is not enough to strip any Nigerian of his or her citizenship.

    Sections 14 and 25 of the 1999 Constitution, as well as section 12 of the Electoral Act 2010 have spelt out the rights of all citizens. Other Nigerians who have been inadvertently deprived a hand in deciding those who rule them are those in the diaspora and those in uniform. This is no longer so even in other African countries that have given effect to section 20 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights. The physically challenged also deserve attention in the design of ballot papers and boxes. They are full citizens, not second class compatriots and must be encouraged to participate in the electoral system.

    We call on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to make provision for the inmates to participate in the 2015 elections as the court has ruled. It is not enough to hold that the commission would find it difficult to register and give effect to the order before the February 2015 elections.

    It is the more pathetic to note that of the 56,000 inmates of the Nigerian prison system, almost 40,000 are awaiting trial. They are, therefore, in the eye of the law, deemed innocent at the moment. Why then should they be deprived of their voting rights? We find it difficult to understand how they would be compensated for this deprivation if eventually they are acquitted of the crimes for which they have been accused.

    In any case, what are the administrators of the justice system doing to ensure that those responsible for pauperisation of the masses are duly punished? Rulers of yesteryear, responsible for the country’s underdevelopment, are those still dictating the tune today. They not only vote, but use looted public funds to dictate who should be elected.

    It is also proper to point out that the utter neglect of the prisons by the Federal Government is itself criminal. The poor attention to welfare of the prisoners is one reason for jail breaks recorded in various parts of the country recently. Even in the Kirikiri Prisons, inmates protested poor treatment and pounced on the warders recently, thus calling attention to poor funding of the facilities.

    The electoral commission should realise that the order made was a mandatory injunction and could not be set aside except by a superior court. The order has deepened the nation’s jurisprudence and further provided for the participation of all Nigerians in their own affairs.

  • Court voids Anambra PDP caretaker committee

    A Federal High Court, Abuja has voided the caretaker committee constituted for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Anambra State by the party’s national leadership.

    Justice Evoh Chukwu, in the verdict yesterday, held that the constitution of the committee while a suit was pending before his court over the party’s leadership dispute was an affront on the court.

    He further held that the constitution of the caretaker committee, contrary to the undertaking by the party’s lawyers, amounted to foisting a state of helplessness on the court.

    The judgment was on a suit by a former chairman of Anambra PDP, Ken Emekeanyi.

    The judge dismissed the suit for being an abuse of court process.

    Justice Chukwu dismissed the suit on the grounds that it amounted to an abuse of court process because there are multiple pending cases on the same issue about the leadership of the PDP in Anambra State.

    Emekeanyi had urged the court to hold that his term of office of four years started running from 2013, when he was allowed to function, even when the election that produced him was held in 2012.

    The plaintiff was elected as the Vice Chairman in 2010. He assumed the office of the Chairman in 2013 when former occupant of the office, Emmanuel Nweze, resigned.

    Emekeanyi, in the suit dated November 6, 2014, had asked the court to declare that his tenure would only start to run in 2013 when he was recognised as the state chairman of the party.

    He argued that having assumed office in 2013, he ought to be allowed to serve four years, running from 2013.

    “I must, in strong term, condemn this reckless forum-shopping by the plaintiff,” the judge held in reference to the multiple cases already filed on the same issue by the plaintiff.

    The judge noted that Emekeanyi’s executive “came into power in 2010, but was refused to function until 2013. Going by the constitution of the party, his tenure elapsed on October 24, 2013. So, his argument that his tenure started running in 2013, holds no water.

    “It is only governors under our law that their four-year tenure starts to run from the day they took oath of office. Having said that, this suit, which is a gross abuse of court process, is hereby dismissed.

    “It is further ordered that the act of appointing caretaker committee by the fourth defendant, which is an abuse of court process, is also set aside and nullified.”

    Earlier in the judgment, Justice Chukwu rejected the argument by lawyer to the PDP, Olusola Oke, to the effect that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit on the ground that the election of a party’s leaders was an internal affair of the party.

    The judge also refused the defendants’ argument that the court could not hear the case on the ground that the plaintiff failed to exhaust internal dispute resolution mechanisms of the party before approaching the court.

    Justice Chukwu agreed with the defendants that the suit amounted to an abuse of court process in view of the existence of multiple suits on the same issues.

  • Biafra Zionist leader, 11 othersarraigned for treason

    Biafra Zionist leader, 11 othersarraigned for treason

    A Federal High Court sitting in Enugu yesterday remanded Leader of Biafra Zionist Movement Benjamin Onwuka and 11 members of the separatist group in prison after they were arraigned before it for treason.

    The secessionists invaded the Enugu State Broadcasting Serrvice studios on June 5 to declare Republic of Biafra. A policeman and a member of the group died during the invasion when policemen came in to stop them.

    Those arraigned apart from Onwuka are: are Kelvin Eke, Samson Ijaga, Uduma Uduma, Bethrain Obiekwe, Abraham Ugwu, Paulinus Uzoegbu, Fidelis Nwaano, Nnamchi Ndubuisi, Michael Olennya, Jeophet  Nwaodo and Aloysius Chukwuma.

    The Prosecution told Justice D.V Agishi that the secessionists forced the radio station to air Biafran jingles and speeches of the late leader of the defunct Republic of Biafra, Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu and also attempted to make a live broadcast for the secession of Biafra from the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    They all pleaded not guilty. The charges were read to them in English and Igbo.

    They were accused of converging on Nike Grammar School, Enugu, on June 4, to conspire to arm themselves with dangerous weapons with intent to capture the Enugu State Broadcasting Service Radio House and make a live broadcast for the secession of Biafra as a nation, an offence contrary to section 37(2) of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

    In count two, they were accused of, on or about the March 8, 2014, in Enugu, committed an illegal act with intent to intimidate and overawe the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, and the Governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime, by hoisting the flags of the Republic of Biafra and state of Israel at the main gate of the Enugu State Government House, an offence contrary to section (37)(1)(2) of the Criminal Code Act LFN 2004.

    .Count three. On or about June 5, arming themselves with dangerous weapons, and with intent to secede and make a live broadcast for secession of Biafra as a nation, attacking ESBS radio house and forced the staff on duty to play on air a compact disc containing Biafra jingles and speeches of the late Ojukwu “with a view to secure or procure unintentionally the restoration of Biafran nation and to overawe the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan,” an “offence of treason contrary to section 37(1) of the Criminal Code Act, LFN, 2004.

    .Count four: The leader of the BZF, Onwuka, created a website for the group and posting inciting publications with intent to incite and solicit support from members of the public to intimidate and overawe President Goodluck Jonathan, an offence contrary to section 37(1)(2) of the Criminal Code Act LFN 2004.

    Following the ‘not guilty’ plea entered by the accused persons, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. D. E. Kaswe, asked the court to set a date for the commencement of trial. The judge fixed December 8.

    The suspects were represented by Mr. Olu Omotayo, the South East Zonal Director of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO).

  • Peoples Bank: Court voids refusal to grant loans to poor

    Peoples Bank: Court voids refusal to grant loans to poor

    A federal  high court sitting in Lagos has declared as illegal and unconstitutional the refusal of the federal government to continue to provide loans  to the under privileged Nigerians  through the Peoples Bank of Nigeria (PBN) , in line with the act establishing the bank,  the Peoples Bank Act (Cap  P7) LFN 2004.

    Justice M.B. Idris made the declaration in a judgement  delivered in a suit no: FHC/L/CS/1121/11 filed by Lagos lawyer, Femi Falana(SAN) against the Attorney General of the Federation.

    Mr. S. Kehinde  was co-counsel to the plaintiff in the suit while the defendants were represented by C.A. Makpu and E.E. Eworo.

    In an amended origination summon dated March 13 this year, Falana had asked the court to determine whether the continuous refusal  of the government to give effect to  the provisions of the Peoples Bank Act (Cap  P7) LFN 2004 is not illegal, null and void having regard to section 1 of the Act .

    He had also asked the court to determine whether the failure or  refusal of the Federal Government to   loans  available to the under privileged Nigerians  is not illegal, null and void having regard to the Act.

    Falana sought three reliefs from the court including a declaration that the Peoples Bank Act (Cap  P7) LFN 2004 has not been repealed by the National Assembly of the Federal  Republic of Nigeria; an order directing the defendant to continue to  give effect to the provisions of the People Bank Act and an order directing the defendant to provide loans to the under privileged Nigerians through the bank .

    The activist had supported the originating summon  with a 15 paragraph affidavit deposed to by one Solomon Kehinde who averred that the plaintiff had on October 18, last year informed him that on daily basis, “he is contacted by under privileged Nigerians for financial assistance  and that he is not in position to assist all the indigent citizens who approached him for financial help”.

    He deposed that when the PBN was in operation, many Nigerians  were given financial assistance by provision of credit facilities   but that after three years of operation,  the bank was abolished by the government without any  reason whatsoever.

    He averred that while the PBN was properly run when it was in operation, the commercial banks were mismanaged  to the detriment of the nation’s economy  to the extent that government had to provide a bail off of over N600 billion to prevent a collapse of the economy  arising from the situation in the commercial; banks.

    According to him, the commercial banks were in the habbit of providing loans to well to do individuals and corporate bodies to the detriment of the under privileged who could not provide collaterals.

    He contended that the PBN was established by the Federal Government in 1989 to provide credit facilities to under privileged  Nigerians who do not have access to credit facilities from conventional banking system because they lack collateral.

    But in a notice of preliminary objection to the suit, the defendant had  sought an order of the court to strike out the suit in its entirety  for being incompetent and for want of jurisdiction or alternatively for dismissing the suit for being statute barred.

    The defendant had sought the order of the court on the grounds that the plaintiff lacks the  locus standi  to institute the action and that the suit as presently constituted is statute barred among other grounds.

    The application was supported with 19 paragraph  counter affidavit deposed to by one Eric Eworo.  The government declared paragraphs 9, 11 and 12 of the plaintiff’s affidavit as untrue and contended that the PBN was abandoned in order to set up a stronger and more efficient institutions and programmes  to cater and support the needs of the citizens, especially the poor and the under privileged.

    He averred that  the strategy adopted by the government to alleviate poverty was not limited to financial assistance and loans only.

  • Defendant challenges court’s jurisdiction in N15.1b fraud case

    Defendant challenges court’s jurisdiction in N15.1b fraud case

    Justice Mohammed Yinusa of the Federal High Court, Lagos, will on May 5 deliver ruling on a preliminary objection by one of the defendants charged with alleged N15.1billion fraud at the defunct Gulf Bank Plc.

    The Federal Government, through the police, had arraigned a Briton, Gareth Mervyn Wilcox; the former director and majority shareholder of both Gulf Bank, Prince Johnson Adeyeba; Ibom Power Company; LYK Engineering Company Limited and a former Company Secretary and Legal Adviser at Gulf Bank, Uche Uwechia

    Uwechia’s lawyer, Mr Revel Ogunde (SAN), had informed the court of a motion challenging its jurisdiction.

    He argued that the police had no constitutional right to prosecute financial crimes, without the authority of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Ogunde stressed that the offence against the accused is a general offence which was embedded on the residual list, and so, can only be entertained by a state High Court.

    He, therefore, urged the court to strike out the charge against his client.

    Wilcox was the Managing Director of both Ibom Power Company and LYK Engineering.

  • Briton, others arraigned for alleged N15.1b theft

    Briton, others arraigned for alleged N15.1b theft

    The Federal Government yesterday arraigned a Briton, Gareth Mervyn Wilcox and four others at the Federal High Court in Lagos for alleged N15.1billion fraud at the defunct Gulf Bank Plc.

    It said they “converted/appropriated” the sum in the name of loans and overdraft facilities to various companies without appropriate accounting records. Part of the money was said to have been used to finance a non-existing refinery.

    The other accused are Prince Johnson Adekunle Adeyeba, a firm, Ibom Power Company; LYK Engineering Company Limited and Uche Uwechia. They were arraigned on 21 counts bordering on conversion of funds for personal use.

    They allegedly “converted/appropriated” $55.3million and over N3.7billion belonging to the bank.

    Adeyeba is said to be the former Director and majority shareholder of both Gulf Bank and Ibom Power Company, while Wilcox was the Managing Director of both Ibom Power Company and LYK Engineering.

    Uwechia is said to be a former Company Secretary and Legal Adviser at Gulf Bank and allegedly aided Adeyeba in the perpetration of the alleged fraud.

    The charge was signed on behalf of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (complainant) by a Chief Superintendent of Police with the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) Effiong Asuquo.

    The prosecution said Adeyeba and Wilcox, with other staff members of the defunct Gulf Bank, Ibom Power Company and LYK Engineering, who are at large, on April 1, 2001, in Lagos, with intent to defraud, converted/appropriated the sum of N450million, property of Gulf Bank to the use of Ibom Power Company as a loan facility without appropriate and due accounting documentation in the bank’s records.

    They were alleged to have converted $20million from the bank on December 24, 2002 and $9.2million between 2001 and 2002 in the name of loan to Ibom without any documentation.

    The accused persons also allegedly converted N150million on August 8, 2003 from the bank for the use of Ibom Power Company as an overdraft facility, without following due process.

    The prosecution said they converted N10million on April 25, 2001 as “bridging loan facility” to the company without proper documentation.

    In the sixth count, the prosecution alleged that the six accused persons converted/appropriated N1.45billion for the use of LYK Engineering as a bridging loan facility, but fraudulently declared the said amount as a N10million facility in the bank’s records.

    Adeyeba and Wilcox were also alleged to have used the bank’s N1.8billion to pay the salaries, allowances and operational expenditures of LYK Engineering and Ibom Power Company without due approval or accounting documentation in the bank’s records.

    In the ninth count, the defendants (except Uwechia) between 2001 and 2004, with intent to defraud, appropriated $9.1million from the bank for the payment of consultancies, conceptual designs, rail designs and soil investigation for a non-existing refinery project.

    They also allegedly converted N300million as a bridging loan facility “to fund consultancy and designs of a none-existing Akwa Ibom Refinery and Petrochemical project” without due approval.

    The government said they took N90 million from Gulf Bank as loan to Sublime Shipping and Marine Services Limited for the purchase of a vessel called MT Marwa, without due approval.

    An overdraft facility of N141million and a loan of over N259million from the bank were granted Fabisco and Allied Products Limited from, in which Adeyeba has major interest, without due process.

    Sublime Commodities Limited, Sublime Africaine Limited and Eagle Energy Limited, companies where Adeyeba also has major interests, allegedly got over N1.2billion as loan or overdraft facilities from the bank without due approval or appropriate accounting documentation.

  • Federal High Court celebrates 40th Anniversary

    Federal High Court celebrates 40th Anniversary

    On April 13, the Federal High Court clocked 40. Rather than roll out the drums, its Chief Judge Justice Ibrahim Auta, deferred celebrations till December 9. In this article, Mrs Rosemary Dugbo-Oghoghorie the Chief Registrar, examines the court’s steady rise from a humble beginning to its position as the largest court in the country.

    About 40 years ago, precisely on April 13, 1973, the Federal Revenue Court came into existence by the promulgation of Decree No. 13 of 1973 by the General Gowon administration. In the Second Republic, the court metamorphosed into the Federal High Court by virtue of Section 228 (1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1979.

    The idea of having a High Court of the Federation first cropped up during the constitutional conference leading to independence. The conception was to establish a High Court for the determination of causes and matters within the Exclusive Legislative List as is customary in countries with Federal System of Government like Nigeria. Unfortunately, no concrete step was taken in this direction until 1973.

    The court started with the Head of Court, then known as the President with four pioneer judges, viz: Hon. Justice S.O. Lambo, Hon. Justice A.A. Adediran, Hon. Justice J.O. Phil-Ebosie, Hon. Justice F.O. Anyaegbunam and Hon. Hon. Justice M.B. Belgore, all of blessed memories.

    Controversies over the court’s jurisdiction from inception plagued every decision of the court, but the controversies were settled with the enactment of Section 230(1) of the 1979 Constitution. Furthermore, Section 231 of the 1979 Constitution was replicated in the Federal High Court (Amendment) Decree, which amended Section 7 of the Federal High Court Act (1973); and conferred exclusive jurisdiction on the court with regard to subject-matters covered by Section 7 of that Act as amended.

    At present, Section7 of the Federal High Court (Amendment) Decree of 1991 dealing with civil causes and matters has been re-enacted as Section 251 (1)(a) – (s) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

    On the other hand, the Criminal Jurisdiction of the court are provided for in Section 251 (2) and (3) of the Constitution (as amended). The court has concurrent jurisdiction with both the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory and state High Courts in respect of Fundamental Rights matters by virtue of Section 46(i) of the Constitution.

    At a time when the adjudicatory system of the court became extremely slow, ineffective and frustrating for litigants, and the need for re-evaluation and re-appraisal became apparent, Hon. Justice Abdullahi Mustapha (as the then Head of Court) rose to the challenge. He enacted the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2009 pursuant to powers conferred on him by Section 254 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

    The enactment of the Rules was to enhance expeditious determination of civil causes and matters before the court. In the same vein, Hon. Justice D.D. Abutu, as Head of Court in 2011 enacted a new Admiralty Procedure Rules.

    The Federal High Court as a premier court of first instance from a humble beginning with five pioneering judges, now has 65 Judges and has recorded impressive growth and has also become a pillar in the Federal Judiciary.

    The court now has 37 judicial divisions and has put up its own permanent buildings in 26 divisions including, Abuja which is the headquarters of the court.

    As part of activities marking the 40th anniversary of the court, the Chief Judge of the court, Hon. Justice I. N. Auta, in company of his brother judges and staff at the headquarters of the court on April 23, 2013 declared open a colourful photo exhibition of its judicial officers, heads of departments, court buildings and activities of the court from inception till date.

    Speaking at the occasion, the Hon. Chief Judge said “we have made our mark in stabilizing the polity and given hope to the proverbial ordinary man”. He added that the gallery will tell the visitors brief history of the Court.

    The Hon. Chief Judge also launched the court’s electronic cause list that displays among other things: suit/charge numbers, parties and date of adjournment. He described the electronic cause list as the first of its kind in the entire Nigerian Judiciary.

    Other ceremonies marking the court’s 40th year anniversary are scheduled to hold from December 9 – 13, this year, at the Headquarters Complex. The ceremonies will feature:-

    •Devotional thanksgiving services at the National Ecumenical Centre and National Mosque, Abuja. •Prison visits by the Hon. Chief Judge

    •Novelty football match between Federal High Court judges and members of the Nigerian Bar Association.

    •Legal symposium involving legal icons in Nigeria as guest speakers and discussants.

    •Ceremonial court session

    •Cutting of anniversary cake

    •Chief Judges Annual Merit Award/Long Service Awards

    •Send-forth of 2013 retirees .End of Year get-together

    •Cultural dances

    As we reflect on the evolution of the Federal Revenue Court and its constitutional metamorphosis into Federal High Court, we say to God be the glory for the impressive growth, development and contributions of the court in the administration of justice in the country. We wish the Hon. Chief Judge and his brother judges a robust adjudication and excellence in the years ahead.

    Congratulations to the Federal High Court.