FHC CJ refuses Falana’s request to reassign Rivers Assembly suit
The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho has turned down the request by Human Rights Lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, seeking the reassignment of the suit filed by Martin Amaewhule’s faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly against the Rivers State government and others, to the Port Harcourt Division of the court.
Amaewhule’s faction of the state Assembly had instituted the suit asking for the withholding of funds meant for local governments in the state.
Citing likely bias by the Abuja Judicial Division of the Federal High Court as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Mr. Nyesom Wike, who is an interested party in this case, has announced plans to build houses for Judges within the Katampe District of the FCT, Falana urged Justice Tsoho to reassign the case to another judge in Rivers state.
But responding to Falana’s request, Justice Tsoho in a letter dated October 25, and signed by his Special Assistant, Joshua Ibrahim advised Falana to make the request judicially through a motion on notice to the trial judge.
The letter reads: “I am directed by His Lordship, the Honourable, the Chief Judge to inform you that this application should be judicially made by Motion on Notice so that the Judge is afforded the opportunity to know the reasons for it and deliver a ruling accordingly. Please, accept the esteemed regards of the Honourable, the Chief Judge.”
Alongside some other judges, Justice Tsoho is being queried by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun over conflicting rulings on Rivers’ matters.