Federal High Court redeploys Justices, As the Controversial Justice Okon Abang Resumes in Delta State

The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court,
Justice Ibrahim Auta, has redeployed 11
judges in different divisions of the court.
Two prominent judges of the court, Justice
Mohammed Liman of Port Harcourt Division
and Justice Okon Abang of the Abuja Division,
are affected by the posting.

The Chief Judge, in a circular dated December
21, 2016 and addressed to “All Judges of
Federal High Court,” redeployed Justice Liman
from Port Harcourt to Enugu Division, and
Justice Abang redeployed from Abuja to
Asaba Division, Delta State.
The circular obtained from a lawyer close to
the Chief Judge’s office directed the affected
judges to resume at their new stations by
January 30.
The Chief Judge gave “the recent
developments in the court” as the reason for
the posting.
Details of the said “recent developments” were
not stated in the circular.
According to the circular, the posting would
not affect the criminal cases the affected
judges are currently handling.
It read in part, “In view of the fact some
divisions are currently short of judges
following the recent developments in the court,
it has become necessary to take urgent steps
to fill in existing vacancies.
“Affected judges are expected to resume in
their new divisions by January 30, 2017.
“The judges shall continue with the hearing of
criminal cases currently before them, as well
as at least two witnesses have testified.”
Others affected include Justice S. Saidu
(moved from Lagos to Port Harcourt); Justice
A.O. Faji (from Asaba to Lagos); Justice R.
M. Aikawa (from Sokoto to Lagos); Justice
B.O. Quadri (from Port Harcourt to Abuja);
and Justice Mallong Hoommuk (from Port
Harcourt to Lafia).
Others are, Justice K.K. Dagat (from Lagos to
Kano); Justice Saleh Idrissa (Kano to Sokoto);
Justice H.I.O. Oshomah (from Lafia to Port
Harcourt) and Justice J.K. Omotosho) from
Kano to Port Harcourt.