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Again, Supreme Court Adjourns Imo Judgment Review Application
The Supreme Court, again, on Monday adjourned till Tuesday the hearing of the application seeking the review of its judgment which upturned the outcome of the last governorship election in Imo State.
The Peoples Democratic Party’s Emeka Ihedioha, is by his application filed on February 5, 2020, seeking the review of the apex court’s February 13, 2020 judgment which removed him from office after about seven months of being inaugurated as the Imo State governor.
The apex court, in the disputed verdict which Ihedioha alleged was obtained by fraud, installed the All Progressives Congress’ Hope Uzodinma, as Ihedioha’s replacement.
The judgment review application was on February 18 adjourned till Monday for hearing.
But a seven-man panel of the court led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, however, further adjourned the application till Tuesday, following a request by Ihedioha’s lawyer, Chief Kanu Agabi (SAN).
Agabi said, “The matter was adjourned till today for hearing. But incidentally, we were served a process by the respondents in court this morning, which we must look at in order to respond.
“If it is convenient to you my lords, permit us to come back tomorrow (Tuesday) so that we can look at the issues that may arise.”
Responding, Uzodinma’s lawyer, Damien Dodo (SAN), said applicants were served Monday morning because they only filed and served their papers last Friday.
Dodo said save Agabi’s request, he was ready to proceed.
The Independent National Electoral Commission’s lawyer, Taminu Inuwa (SAN), too said he was ready to proceed with the hearing.
But the panel decided to adjourn the hearing till Tuesday.
Members of the panel were, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Tanko Muhammad, and Justices Sylvester Ngwuta, Olukayode Ariwoola, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Amina Augie, and Uwani Abba-Aji.
The Punch
The Chief Judge of Rivers State, Justice Simeon Amadi, has declined to set up a judicial panel to investigate Governor Siminalayi Fubara, citing a court order.
The Rivers State House of Assembly had requested that Amadi set up a seven-member panel to probe Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, over allegations of gross misconduct.
However, in a letter dated January 20 and addressed to the Speaker of the House, Martins Amaewhule, the chief judge cited two court orders barring him from receiving, forwarding, or considering any requests to form such a panel.
The judge stated that the orders were served on his office on January 16, 2026 and remain in force.
The chief judge emphasised that constitutionalism and the rule of law require all authorities to obey subsisting court orders, irrespective of their perception of the orders’ validity.
He referenced legal precedents, noting that in a similar case in 2007, the Chief Judge of Kwara State was condemned for ignoring a restraining court order when setting up an investigative panel, a decision later voided by the Court of Appeal.
Justice Amadi further observed that the Speaker has already filed an appeal against the court orders at the Court of Appeal, adding another layer to the ongoing legal proceedings surrounding the allegations.
“By the doctrine of ‘lis pendens’, parties and the court have to await the outcome of the appeal,” he said.
Justice Amadi further stated that the existence of the injunctions and the pending appeal had effectively tied his hands.
“In view of the foregoing, my hand is fettered, as there are subsisting interim orders of injunction and appeal against the said orders. I am therefore legally disabled at this point from exercising my duties under Section 188(5) of the Constitution in the instant,” he said.
The chief judge appealed to the lawmakers to recognise the legal constraints surrounding the matter.
Justice Amadi, therefore, urged the state assembly to be “magnanimous enough to appreciate the legal position of the matter.”
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has reportedly affirmed the removal of Julius Abure as the national chairman of the Labour Party, LP.
The Court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to recognize the Senator Nenadi Usman-led National Caretaker Committee as the party’s lawful leadership.
The development was disclosed by human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, in a post on X, where he said he was present at the Federal High Court when the judgment was delivered in a related case.
Effiong stated that Justice Lifu delivering judgment on Wednesday, upheld the Nenadi Usman-led committee as the only valid and lawful leadership of the Labour Party, reaffirming that Abure’s tenure had elapsed in line with an earlier Supreme Court judgment.
The court consequently directed INEC to immediately recognize Nenadi Usman as the party’s leader.
He wrote: “I am currently before the Federal High Court in Abuja for a case. I listened to judgement delivered in an another case.
“Honourable Justice Lifu has just upheld Senator Nnadi Esther Usman-led National Caretaker Committee as the only valid and lawful leadership of the Labour Party.
“The Judge reaffirmed that by the Supreme Court’s judgement, Julius Abure’s tenure had since elapsed.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria defeated Egypt 4-2 on penalties to win the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 third-place playoff on Saturday.
Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali proved the hero of the night with two crucial saves during the shootout, including one from Egyptian star Mohamed Salah.
Ademola Lookman then calmly converted the decisive penalty to secure the bronze medal —Nigeria’s ninth third-place finish in AFCON history.
With neither side able to break the deadlock in a cagey second half, the game ended 0-0, sending the contest directly to penalties.
Despite Fisayo Dele-Bashiru missing Nigeria’s first kick, Nwabali’s immediate saved from Egypt’s first two attempts shifted the momentum.
