See how Justice Amobeda Defies Transfer Order from Chief Judge of Federal High Court
Justice Simon Amobeda of the Federal High Court has not complied with a transfer order to move from Kano to Kogi State, nearly three months after receiving the directive from Chief Judge Hon. Justice John T. Tsoho.
Despite being officially reassigned in July 2024, Justice Amobeda remains stationed in Kano. The Chief Judge’s nationwide posting directive, issued on July 12, mandated all reassigned judges to report to their new locations, which included major cities like Abuja, Lagos, and Kogi. Judges were instructed to conclude any outstanding cases before their departure.
Currently, the Chief Judge is operating between Abuja and Lagos, while Justice Amobeda’s refusal to relocate is generating considerable discussion within the judiciary, particularly in light of recent criticisms regarding one of his rulings that involved strict conditions.
The reasons behind his non-compliance remain unclear, and it is uncertain whether the Federal High Court will take any disciplinary measures against him. Notably, on October 22, despite the transfer, Justice Amobeda issued a ruling regarding the Kano local government elections, which invalidated the victories of all candidates from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
In that ruling, he directed the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) to accept a new list of candidates from a faction led by the recognized state chairman, Dalhatu Usman. Justice Amobeda also restrained the commission from releasing the voters’ register for the upcoming election scheduled for October 26, 2024.
Earlier, he dismissed Prof. Sani Malumfashi from his position as chairman of KANSIEC just days before the local elections, stating that Malumfashi was affiliated with a political party.
The ruling followed a case filed by Aminu Aliyu Tiga and the All Progressives Congress, and involved multiple defendants, including KANSIEC and various state authorities. The court determined that several defendants from the NNPP were disqualified from their roles due to their active involvement in partisan politics.
In a separate matter earlier this year, Justice Amobeda affirmed the rights of the deposed Emir of Kano, Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero, to freedom of movement and ordered the Kano State Government to pay him N10 million in damages.
Justice Amobeda’s recent rulings and actions have raised questions about his adherence to judicial protocols, as well as the implications for the judiciary as a whole.
