The National Judicial Council (NJC) has released a certified copy of itscorrespondence relating to the case involving activist Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho, stating that only the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court has the administrative authority to approve the transfer of a case from one judge to another.
The correspondence, made public amid ongoing legal proceedings involving Aghogho, clarifies the limits of the NJC’s powers in matters concerning the reassignment of cases. According to the Council, requests for the transfer of cases within the Federal High Court fall under the administrative jurisdiction of the court’s Chief Judge, rather than the NJC.
The clarification follows a prolonged dispute surrounding Aghogho’s criminal trial before the Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State. The activist had previously petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria and the NJC, seeking the reassignment of his case over concerns about the fairness of the proceedings.
In the certified correspondence, the NJC reportedly maintained that while it is responsible for the discipline and oversight of judicial officers, it does not possess the authority to administratively transfer pending cases between judges. The Council stated that such decisions rest exclusively with the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court in accordance with established judicial procedures.
The development comes after Aghogho’s legal team sought clarification from the NJC regarding earlier communications on petitions filed against judicial officers handling aspects of his case. Counsel had also questioned the status of those petitions and the handling of previous correspondence from the Council.
The issue of judicial case reassignment has attracted public attention in recent months, with legal experts noting that the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court retains the administrative power to assign or transfer cases among judges in the interest of the efficient administration of justice.
The substantive criminal proceedings involving Aghogho remain before the Federal High Court, while the broader legal and administrative issues raised in his petitions continue to draw scrutiny. Neither the Federal High Court nor the office of the Chief Judge had publicly indicated any change to the assignment of the case as of the latest available information.
