The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice John Tsoho, has approved the redeployment of several judges across different judicial divisions of the court, in a move aimed at enhancing administrative efficiency and judicial service delivery.
The decision forms part of ongoing efforts by the court’s leadership to optimize its operations and ensure better alignment of judicial resources across the country.
The announcement was made in an official statement released on Sunday by the Director of Information of the Federal High Court, Dr. Catherine Oby Christopher.
According to the statement, the redeployments affect a number of judges and judicial divisions. Prominent among the changes is the redeployment of Justice M.G. Umar, who moves from the Enugu Judicial Division to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. This redeployment is seen as strategic given the importance of the Abuja Division, which handles several high-profile and complex cases.
In similar adjustments, Justice Tijjani Garba Ringim has been moved from the Gombe Division to the Yola Division. Justice M.T. Segun-Bello, previously serving in Abakaliki, will now resume duties at the Enugu Division, while Justice Bala Khalifa-Mohammed Usman relocates from Yola to the Awka Division. In turn, Justice Amina Aliyu Mohammed, formerly of the Awka Division, will take up her new post in Gombe.
Dr. Christopher emphasized that the redeployments are effective immediately. She further directed that all affected judges are to make diligent efforts to conclude and deliver judgments on all pending matters in their current jurisdictions before assuming duties at their new postings. This is in line with the court’s commitment to preventing case backlog and ensuring continuity in judicial proceedings.
Furthermore, the Chief Judge directed that judges currently residing in the Abakaliki and Katsina Judicial Divisions will continue to handle all matters—whether pending or newly filed—in their respective jurisdictions until further administrative decisions are communicated.
In addition to the redeployment, the statement addressed the reassignment of cases previously handled by the suspended Justice Inyang, who is currently serving a one-year suspension. These cases, according to the court, will now be managed by the judge newly redeployed to the Abuja Division for that specific purpose.
Dr. Christopher made it clear that litigants and legal practitioners need not submit fresh applications for reassignment of these cases. “Consequently, there is no need for litigants and/or counsel to apply to the Honourable Chief Judge for the re-assignment of cases pending before the Court,” the statement read.
The Chief Judge reaffirmed his commitment to upholding the independence and efficiency of the Federal High Court system through routine administrative restructuring where necessary, aimed at ensuring equitable case distribution and prompt justice delivery across all divisions of the court.
The redeployment exercise reflects the Federal High Court’s ongoing internal reforms and underscores the court’s resolve to remain proactive in addressing operational challenges, especially in response to staff changes, jurisdictional workload disparities, and the overall need for judicial balance across the federation.