Rita Odafe
A recent court ruling saw the Federal High Court in Kaduna declining jurisdiction in the case brought by Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of the state. El-Rufai sought to challenge the Adhoc Committee report of the Kaduna State House Assembly and other declaratory reliefs.
During the proceedings, Hon. Justice R.M. Aikawa highlighted that the applicant did not provide sufficient evidence to justify setting aside the court’s proceedings as requested. The request for the judge to recuse himself was also dismissed due to the lack of compelling reasons or facts.
The court decided not to proceed with the case based on subject matter jurisdiction. Instead of dismissing or striking out the lawsuit as requested by both sides’ counsels, the court, in accordance with Section 22(2) of the Federal High Court Act, transferred the case to the Kaduna State Chief Judge for further determination by the High Court of Kaduna State.
Femi Falana, SAN, and Sani Katu, SAN represented the 1st respondent, while Sule Shuaibu, SAN, the Attorney General of Kaduna State, and Jummai Danazumi, Esq, acted as counsels for the 2nd Respondent.
Following the judgment, legal experts emphasized that the ruling upheld the rule of law and underscored the judiciary’s independence. It was seen as a clear message that the legal process should not be undermined. The court’s decision was hailed as a victory for justice and fairness by observers and legal practitioners alike.
