Over 75 Civil Society Groups Decry Judicial Misconduct In Niger State

The Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs), representing over 75 civil society organisations (CSOs), human rights groups, community based organisations (CBO), among others, committed to justice, rule of law, and institutional accountability across Nigeria, has expressed grave concern over a series of disturbing judicial developments unfolding in Niger State.

Specifically, in a statement signed by its National Secretary, Alhaji Ali Abacha, the coalition said that they “are compelled to bring to national attention the actions and inactions of Justice Bilkisu Yusuf of the High Court of Niger State, Minna, which have raised questions over judicial integrity and potential miscarriage of justice in an ongoing land dispute case.”

According to the Coalition, “Justice Yusuf took his illegality to the extreme by looking into the sunny face of the Court of Appeal by refusing to stay proceedings even when an appeal over the subject matter has been filed before the Court of Appeal and the Court has already started sitting on the matter, thereby creating what is, in judicial circles described as head-on collision with the court of appeal.

“In Suit No. NSHC/MN/247/2014, filed by Homefronts Consultants Limited and others against Foundation Mira and others, Justice Yusuf has conducted proceedings in a manner that appears inconsistent with the core principles of impartiality and due process. At the center of this controversy is a valuable parcel of land situated along David Road, Minna, for which Foundation Mira holds a valid Certificate of Occupancy issued over 30 years ago by the state government, without any revocation to date. Foundation Mira has consistently met its statutory obligations by paying ground rent running into millions of Naira. We have verified the authenticity of the certificate and corresponding receipts.

“The land in question has since become the site of a multibillion-naira investment—a modern international shopping mall constructed by the Defendants, with investments exceeding 20 billion Naira. Despite this, and with the matter still pending before the Court, Justice Yusuf is reported to have allowed the plaintiffs to erect residential structures on portions of the land originally designated for parking spaces for the mall. This blatant act of possession, allegedly encouraged by the court’s inaction or complicity, undermines both the integrity of the litigation process and the rights of the defendants.

“More troubling, however, is Justice Yusuf’s disregard for the authority of the appellate court. The 1st and 2nd Defendants, after facing continuous obstruction in calling witnesses to support their case, filed a motion requesting the recusal of the judge to allow for a fair reassignment. This motion was summarily dismissed. Following this, the Defendants proceeded to file an appeal at the Court of Appeal, registered as Appeal No. CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/1392MI/2024, challenging both her refusal to recuse and the denial of their right to a fair trial.

“Despite being officially notified of this pending appeal and the fact that the appellate court commenced proceedings on January 22, 2025—with documented records available—Justice Yusuf has brazenly continued with hearings on the same matter in the lower court. Legal experts agree that once an appeal on the subject matter has been filed and proceedings have commenced at the Court of Appeal, the lower court is constitutionally bound to suspend any further action. Justice Yusuf’s decision to forge ahead in defiance of this principle amounts to what is known in legal parlance as a “judicial collision” with the Court of Appeal.

“This is not an isolated incident. The CNCSOs has confirmed that Justice Yusuf currently faces multiple petitions before the National Judicial Council (NJC), including one relating to Suit No. NSHC/MN/727M/2024 (Ammatulah Chado Jummai v. Mr. Samuel Gana & Anor), in which the Judge also proceeded with hearings despite the matter being under appeal. One such petition was received by the NJC Secretariat in Abuja on February 14, 2025, at 11:24 a.m. These patterns raise serious questions about the Judge’s regard for the rule of law and judicial hierarchy.”

They observed that “the actions of Justice Yusuf do not only endanger the outcome of the specific case in question, but also tarnish the sanctity and public perception of the judiciary in Niger State and Nigeria at large. The Judge’s conduct strikes at the very heart of the trust the Nigerian people must have in our justice system to be fair, unbiased, and respectful of judicial procedure and appellate authority.”

Accordingly, they called for the following immediate actions:

“1. The National Judicial Council (NJC) must investigate the conduct of Justice Bilkisu Yusuf with urgency and take appropriate disciplinary action where necessary to restore public confidence in the judiciary.

“2. The Chief Judge of Niger State, whose administrative record has rightly earned commendations, should act decisively to reassign Suit No. NSHC/MN/247/2014 to a different judge whose impartiality and professional ethics are unquestionable.

“3. The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), whose reform-oriented leadership and commitment to the rule of law we deeply respect, is hereby respectfully urged to intervene in this matter. We call upon her to ensure that justice is not only done, but seen to be done in this case. We believe that her leadership is vital in guiding the NJC and protecting the credibility of the judiciary from erosion due to rogue behaviour by a few within its ranks.”

The civil society organisations warned that “Should appropriate action not be taken swiftly, the Coalition will be left with no option but to mobilize for a mass protest at the NJC Secretariat and other relevant institutions to demand accountability and insist on justice for the aggrieved parties.

“Let it be known that our call is not merely in defence of the rights of the defendants in the suit in question, but in defence of every Nigerian who depends on the courts as the final hope for justice. A judiciary that is not accountable endangers the very fabric of our democracy and peace.

“We remain hopeful that this matter will be addressed with the seriousness it deserves and that the rule of law will prevail without further delay”, the statement concluded.