Abang moved out of Abuja, Liman out of PH in judiciary shake-up

Ibrahim Auta, chief judge of the federal high court, has redeployed 11 judges of the court to various divisions.

Among those redeployed is Okon Abang, a judge of the Abuja division who is handling the trial of Olisa Metuh, former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spokesman.

Abang is the judge who gave the controversial judgment recognising the Ali Modu Sheriff faction of the PDP as the legitimate leadership of the party.

He was moved from the Abuja division to Asaba in Delta state.

Also, Mohammed Liman, a judge of the Port Harcourt division, whose residence the DSS accidentally invaded in October 2016, was moved to the Enugu division of the court.

‎A circular from the chief judge issued on December 21, 2016, reads: “In view of the fact some divisions are currently short of judges following the recent developments in the court, it has become necessary to take urgent steps to fill in existing vacancies.”

“Affected judges are expected to assume work at their new divisions by January 30, 2017.

“The judges shall continue with the hearing of criminal cases currently before them, as well as, at least two witnesses have testified.”

Other judges affected are S Saidu (transferred from Lagos to Port Harcourt); AO Faji ( moved from Asaba to Lagos);  R M Aikawa (from Sokoto to Lagos) BO Quadri (from Port Harcourt to Abuja); Mallong Hoommuk (from Port Harcourt to Lafia); KK Dagat (from Lagos to Kano); Saleh Idrissa (Kano to Sokoto);  HIO Oshomah (from Lafia to Port Harcourt) and JK Omotosho) from Kano to Port Harcourt.