Alleged murder: Court of Appeal orders FHC CJ to reassign case

The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has criticized the Federal High Court, Abuja for not granting a fair hearing to the Nigerian Army when it considered a fundamental human rights case brought against the Army by an aggrieved individual, Abdeen Abubakar.

The three-judge bench led by Justice Okon Abang, which delivered the main ruling, said it was in line with sections 221 and 396 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

Abdeen Abubakar had claimed that he was tortured by the army while in their custody.

But in a unanimous ruling, the appeals court upheld the army’s appeal, quashed the lower court’s proceedings and ordered the chief judge of the Federal High Court to reassign it to another judge for a new trial.

“The court that heard the case did not allow the army to adequately express its views.” Justice Abang further held the decision.

In another landmark development ruling, the court also strengthened efforts by the Nigeria Police Force to prosecute a man accused of alleged attempted murder and machete attack on a victim in distant Malaysia,

Justice Abang, who led the three-man bench as it delivered the verdicts, ordered that the FCT High Court impose the arrest and prosecution of the man.

Prince Okoro Nkemakolam had approached the court of appeal, arguing that the attempted murder charge brought by the police against him was not sustainable.