Lawyer threatens to petition CJN over court letters

File photo: Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun

A lawyer representing a defendant in a criminal case before the Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, has threatened to petition the Chief Justice of Nigeria over the alleged delay, withholding and improper handling of letters sent to the court’s Chief Judge concerning the case.

The lawyer, Andrew Elekeokwuri, said he had notified the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court in Abuja of his intention to escalate the matter if the court’s administrative department failed to explain what happened to the letters.

In a letter dated November 3, 2026, Elekeokwuri said the complaint concerned correspondence relating to Charge No. FHC/WR/92C/2022, between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho.

The letters were written to seek the Chief Judge’s intervention in the case, including a request for the matter to be transferred from the Warri Judicial Division to another division of the Federal High Court.

Elekeokwuri said the first request, dated February 9, 2026, was acknowledged by the Chief Judge’s Chambers on February 17.

He said further letters were submitted on March 2, September 28, October 8 and October 15 to seek updates on the request and an explanation for the words, “AWAITING CJ RESPONSE”, repeatedly appearing on the case’s cause list.

The lawyer said the matter became more concerning on October 29, when representatives of the Take It Back Movement from Delta State and the Federal Capital Territory, alongside a representative connected with his legal team, visited the Federal High Court in Abuja to make enquiries.

According to him, the delegation met the Deputy Chief Registrar in charge of the Chief Judge’s special assistant, Joshua Ibrahim Aji, who reportedly said the letters had been sent to the Chief Judge at his residence and would be attended to by October 30.

However, Elekeokwuri said his counsel was informed the following day that the letters had allegedly been returned without being processed and that further enquiries should be made on November 4.

He said the conflicting information raised questions about what happened to the letters, who handled them and whether they were eventually presented to the Chief Judge.

The lawyer said he was not accusing Aji of personally withholding or interfering with the correspondence but wanted the court administration to establish his role, if any, in handling the documents.

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“We do not presently allege as an established fact that Mr. Aji personally withheld, diverted or interfered with any correspondence,” the letter stated.

“The issue is whether the official records disclose his involvement or responsibility at any stage of the administrative process.”

Elekeokwuri asked the Chief Registrar to investigate when the letters were received, the officers who handled them, whether they were properly recorded and whether they eventually reached the Chief Judge.

He also requested an explanation for the inscription “AWAITING CJ RESPONSE” on the case’s cause list and whether it referred to the letters seeking the transfer of the case.

The lawyer further asked the court to preserve all documents that could help establish what happened to the correspondence, including receipt records, registers, internal notes, dispatch records, electronic transmission records and documents showing whether the letters were returned or resubmitted.

“We are providing the Federal High Court administration an opportunity to establish the facts from its official records and to clarify any discrepancy that may exist,” he said.

He warned that if the court failed to provide a satisfactory explanation, or its records revealed issues requiring further investigation, he would submit a formal petition to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, who is also the Chairman of the Federal Judicial Service Commission.

Elekeokwuri said the commission had the authority to investigate complaints involving deputy chief registrars of superior federal courts and take appropriate disciplinary action where necessary.

He said his main concern was to establish what happened to the letters after they were submitted and whether they were properly handled and brought to the attention of the Chief Judge.

The lawyer requested that the Chief Registrar formally acknowledge receipt of his notification and provide a written explanation of when the letters were received, who handled them, where they were sent and how they were eventually treated.

Why this version works better: It explains why the letters were written, what the lawyer wanted, what allegedly happened during the follow-up and why he is threatening to petition the CJN. It also preserves the important qualification that no misconduct has been established against the deputy chief registrar.