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A powerful coalition of more than 75 civil society organisations, human rights groups, and community-based organisations under the umbrella of the Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations (CNCSOs) has sounded the alarm over what it calls “a grave affront to judicial integrity” in Niger State. In a detailed statement signed by its National Secretary, Alhaji Ali Abacha, the coalition condemned the actions of Justice Bilkisu Yusuf of the High Court of Niger State, Minna, accusing her of undermining the rule of law and creating a dangerous “judicial collision” with the Court of Appeal.

The coalition’s outrage is focused on proceedings in Suit No. NSHC/MN/247/2014, a high-stakes land dispute between Homefronts Consultants Limited and Foundation Mira over a prime piece of property on David Road, Minna. According to CNCSOs, Foundation Mira holds a valid Certificate of Occupancy issued more than 30 years ago by the state government, with no record of revocation, and has paid millions of Naira in statutory ground rent. The land, they noted, has since been transformed into a multibillion-naira international shopping mall, with investments exceeding N20 billion.

“Justice Yusuf took his illegality to the extreme by looking into the sunny face of the Court of Appeal by refusing to stay proceedings even when an appeal over the subject matter has been filed before the Court of Appeal and the Court has already started sitting on the matter,” the statement read. “This blatant defiance creates what is, in judicial circles, described as a head-on collision with the Court of Appeal.”

The coalition accused the judge of allowing the plaintiffs to construct residential buildings on portions of the land that were meant to serve as parking space for the mall, despite the case still being contested in court. “This blatant act of possession, allegedly encouraged by the court’s inaction or complicity, undermines both the integrity of the litigation process and the rights of the defendants,” CNCSOs declared.

The coalition expressed additional concern over what it described as deliberate obstruction of the defendants’ right to a fair trial. According to the statement, the defendants’ attempts to present their witnesses were repeatedly frustrated, prompting them to file a motion seeking Justice Yusuf’s recusal. “The 1st and 2nd Defendants, after facing continuous obstruction in calling witnesses to support their case, filed a motion requesting the recusal of the judge to allow for a fair reassignment. This motion was summarily dismissed,” CNCSOs stated.

Following the dismissal, the defendants filed an appeal before the Court of Appeal (Appeal No. CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/1392MI/2024) challenging the refusal to recuse and the denial of a fair hearing. Despite formal notification of this appeal and confirmation that proceedings commenced at the Court of Appeal on January 22, 2025, Justice Yusuf reportedly pressed on with hearings in the lower court.

“Legal experts agree that once an appeal on the subject matter has been filed and proceedings have commenced at the Court of Appeal, the lower court is constitutionally bound to suspend any further action,” the coalition emphasized. “Justice Yusuf’s decision to forge ahead in defiance of this principle amounts to what is known in legal parlance as a ‘judicial collision’ with the Court of Appeal.”

The coalition also revealed that Justice Yusuf is facing other petitions before the National Judicial Council (NJC), including one tied to a separate case, Suit No. NSHC/MN/727M/2024 (Ammatulah Chado Jummai v. Mr. Samuel Gana & Anor), where similar conduct allegedly occurred. According to CNCSOs, the NJC Secretariat officially received one such petition on February 14, 2025.

“The actions of Justice Yusuf do not only endanger the outcome of the specific case in question, but also tarnish the sanctity and public perception of the judiciary in Niger State and Nigeria at large,” the coalition warned. “The Judge’s conduct strikes at the very heart of the trust the Nigerian people must have in our justice system to be fair, unbiased, and respectful of judicial procedure and appellate authority.”

In response, the coalition issued a set of urgent demands: immediate investigation by the NJC into Justice Yusuf’s conduct, reassignment of the case to another judge by the Chief Judge of Niger State, and intervention by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to safeguard judicial credibility.

“We call upon [the CJN] to ensure that justice is not only done, but seen to be done in this case,” CNCSOs urged. “We believe that her leadership is vital in guiding the NJC and protecting the credibility of the judiciary from erosion due to rogue behaviour by a few within its ranks.”

Warning of potential mass action, the coalition vowed to mobilize nationwide protests if decisive action is not taken. “Should appropriate action not be taken swiftly, the Coalition will be left with no option but to mobilize for a mass protest at the NJC Secretariat and other relevant institutions to demand accountability and insist on justice for the aggrieved parties,” the statement read.

Concluding the statement, Alhaji Abacha reaffirmed the coalition’s commitment to defending Nigeria’s democratic values. “Let it be known that our call is not merely in defence of the rights of the defendants in the suit in question, but in defence of every Nigerian who depends on the courts as the final hope for justice,” he declared. “A judiciary that is not accountable endangers the very fabric of our democracy and peace.”

The coalition expressed optimism that the matter will be addressed with the urgency and seriousness it demands, reiterating its resolve to uphold the rule of law and institutional accountability nationwide.