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JUST IN: Court strikes out suit against Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road

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The Federal High Court in Lagos has declined jurisdiction in a suit challenging the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, striking out the case brought by residents and property owners in the Okun-Ajah community of Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Lagos State.

Justice Akintayo Aluko, in a consolidated ruling on multiple preliminary objections raised by the defendants, held that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

Consequently, the case, marked FHC/L/CS/1488/2024, was struck out.

However, the Judge directed that the suit be transferred to the Lagos State High Court, which he deemed the appropriate forum to adjudicate on the issues raised.

The Plaintiffs, Chief Saheed Olukosi (Akogun of Okun-Ajah Community), Noibi Issa Afolayan, Yussuf Odunuga Sulaiman, Olufemi Fasehun, and Adeola Tokunbo filed the suit on behalf of Okun-Ajah residents and affected property owners, seeking to halt the coastal road project over alleged encroachment on their lands.

They asked the court to nullify any construction or planning activity on their properties, alleging unlawful encroachment and trespass.

Among the reliefs sought were orders to invalidate the road designs affecting their land, to restrain the authorities and contractor from continuing construction on the disputed area, and to award damages for the alleged trespass.

The defendants named in the suit include the Honourable Minister of Works, Dr. Dave Umahi; Engineer Olukorede Keisha; the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing; Lagos State Attorney-General; the Lagos Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development; Surveyor-General of Lagos State; General Manager of the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority; General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency; and Hitech Construction Limited.

In response, the 1st to 3rd and 9th Defendants filed separate preliminary objections challenging the jurisdiction of the court.

Represented by Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Prof. J.O. Olatoke, SAN; Y.A.H. Ruba, SAN; Roy U. Nwaeze, SAN; and Ibukun Fasoro, they argued that the matter fell outside the purview of the Federal High Court.

The preliminary objections were supported by affidavits, to which the plaintiffs responded with a counter-affidavit.

In his ruling, Justice Aluko upheld the objections, stating that the legal questions raised and the reliefs sought were more appropriately handled by the Lagos State High Court. He ruled in favour of the Defendants, bringing proceedings at the Federal High Court to a close.

“Counsel to the Plaintiffs made an alternative submission in his written address, urging the court not to strike out this suit if the court finds that it lacks jurisdiction to adjudicate over the case.

“Counsel urged the court to transfer this suit to the State High Court, instead of striking out same.

“I agree with Counsel on this request, as this court possesses the needed power and jurisdiction to accede to such prayer.

“This court is fortified under Section 22(2) of the Federal High Court Act, which provides thus: ‘No cause or matter shall be struck out by the court merely on the ground that such cause or matter was taken in the court instead of the High Court of a State or of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in which it ought to have been brought, and the Judge of the court before whom such cause or matter is brought may cause such cause or matter to be transferred to the appropriate High Court of a State or at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in accordance with Rules of Court to be made under Section 44 of this Act.

“The Objections of the 1st-3rd and 9th Defendant/Objectors are therefore, sustained. This court has no jurisdiction to adjudicate over the subject-matter in this case.

“Pursuant to Section 22(2) of the Federal High Court Act, this suit is accordingly transferred to the Lagos State High Court as the appropriate court for adjudication”, Justice Aluko held.

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Police Obeys Court Order to Suspend Tinted Glass Permits Enforcement

The court issued the interim order during a hearing in Suit No. FHC/WR/CS/103/2025 instituted by John Aikpokpo-Martins against the IGP and the police.

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The Nigeria Police Force has announced the suspension of vehicle tinted glass permit because of a court order halting the enforcement for now.

Spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh confirmed the suspension on Wednesday, October 8.

Recall Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, last week ordered the Nigeria Police Force and the Inspector-General of police (IGP) to suspend the enforcement of the tinted glass permit across the country.

The court ordered the police and the IGP to maintain the status quo and “respect judicial processes pending further proceedings in the matter.”

The court issued the interim order during a hearing in Suit No. FHC/WR/CS/103/2025 instituted by John Aikpokpo-Martins against the IGP and the police.

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My resignation not admission of guilt – Nnaji

My decision to step aside is therefore a personal choice, not an admission of guilt. It is a principled decision to respect the sanctity of due process and to preserve the integrity of the judicial proceedings currently before the court

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The Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Geoffrey Nnaji, says his resignation from President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet is not an admission of guilt but a personal choice.

Nnaji, who was appointed in August 2023, announced his resignation in a letter to the President on Tuesday, expressing appreciation for the opportunity to serve.

This is contained in a statement he signed in Abuja.

Nnaji was appointed as minister by the administration of President Bola Tinubu in August 2023, but resigned amidst controversies surrounding allegations of certificate forgery.

He noted that over the past week, an orchestrated, sustained campaign of falsehood, politically motivated, and malicious attacks was waged against him across print, electronic and social media platforms.

Nnaji emphasized that these unfounded allegations and media distortions not only caused personal distress but also distracted him from work.

He had put in five decades building a reputation anchored on hard work, honour and service to humanity.

Nnaji said that he could not, in good conscience, allow these distortions to cast a shadow over the noble objectives of the present administration.

“My decision to step aside is therefore a personal choice, not an admission of guilt. It is a principled decision to respect the sanctity of due process and to preserve the integrity of the judicial proceedings currently before the court, ” he said.

Nnaji expressed optimism that in the end, justice will vindicate the just.

(VANGUARD)

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Nnamdi Kanu’s Health: NMA Panel To Give Report on 16 October

Acting on the direct order of the Federal High Court, the NMA committee—made up of cardiologists, neurologists, and senior specialists—was tasked with one question: Is Nnamdi Kanu fit to stand trial? ‎‎

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A special medical panel of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) now has 16 October to give its report on the health status of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, who is on terrorism trial at the Federal High Court Abuja.

‎‎Justice James Omotosho gave the date after the prosecutor, Suraj Sa’aida SAN, informed the Court that the panel of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) was not ready. ‎‎

The prosecutor requested for a week to enable it to complete its assignment which was due this Wednesday.

This application was not opposed by the defence lawyers led by Kanu Agabi SAN.

In a short ruling, Justice Omotosho reminded all parties in the case of the court’s stance on accelerated hearing of the matter. ‎‎

The judge however noted that he is inclined to adjourn the matter till 16 October, which will be enough time for the medical panel to complete its job. ‎‎

Acting on the direct order of the Federal High Court, the NMA committee—made up of cardiologists, neurologists, and senior specialists—was tasked with one question: Is Nnamdi Kanu fit to stand trial? ‎‎

The intervention by the court follows weeks of conflicting claims from doctors of the DSS and Kanu’s private physician on his true state of health, amidst claims of deteriorating condition and alleged manipulation of medical records.‎‎

The NMA Committee’s mandate is to examine Kanu directly, both inside DSS custody and, if necessary, in external hospitals.

It must also assess whether DSS facilities are capable of handling his ailments—or if he should be transferred to the National Hospital in Abuja, or another specialized center.‎

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