Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, has formally requested the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, to reassign a case involving the Rivers State House of Assembly to the Port Harcourt Division.
The suit, initiated by Martin Amaewhule’s faction, seeks to halt the withholding of funds meant for local governments in Rivers State.
Initially assigned to Justice Emeka Nwite and later to Justice Joyce Abdulmalik in Abuja, Falana’s law firm argues that the Port Harcourt Division is better suited for this case due to the local jurisdiction, as the defendants have offices there, and many involved parties reside in the area.
In a letter dated October 25, 2024, the firm expressed concerns about potential bias in the Abuja division, citing recent comments by Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike regarding plans to construct housing for judges in Abuja.
According to Vanguard, Falana’s firm argues this could improperly influence judicial outcomes, contravening the constitutional guarantees of independence and impartiality.
The letter emphasizes that the judiciary should maintain financial autonomy, noting that the National Judicial Council is responsible for housing judges.
Falana’s request highlights the importance of judicial integrity and the necessity of appropriate venue selection for cases of significant public interest
