Sahara Reporters’ Baseless Attack On Justice Tsoho Is A Disservice To Judicial Integrity -By Adewole Kehinde

Once again, Sahara Reporters has chosen sensationalism over truth in its latest publication titled “EXCLUSIVE: Nigerian Chief Judge Tsoho Plots To Reassign Nestoil/Neconde Case To Crony Judge Amid Allegation Of Bribery From Businessman Obiejesi.”

The story, filled with conjecture and deliberate distortions, is nothing short of an orchestrated blackmail targeted at tarnishing the image of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho.

The allegation of bribery to pervert justice linked to Justice Tsoho is baseless, mischievous, and clearly designed to mislead the public. At no time has Justice Tsoho planned to secretly reassign the major lawsuit involving Nestoil Limited and Neconde Energy Limited to any “crony judge.”

The case is already in the public domain and has attracted significant attention, leaving no room for the kind of clandestine manipulation Sahara Reporters is peddling.

Contrary to the false claims, the Chief Judge never pressured Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court, who is the presiding judge in the matter, to deliver a ruling favourable to Nestoil or its affiliate companies. Instead, what actually transpired was a lawful and transparent administrative process in response to petitions submitted to the Chief Judge, as is standard judicial procedure.

In fact, three petitions were written against Justice Dehinde Dipeolu—one by the fourth defendant in the matter and two by the defendants’ counsel, Mofesomo Tayo Oyetibo, SAN. In keeping with due process, the Chief Judge, Justice Tsoho, directed the trial judge to respond within a stipulated period, initially 14 days, later reduced to seven, in order to ensure fairness and transparency.

These petitions surfaced barely a week after Justice Dipeolu granted a Mareva injunction in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/2127/2025, empowering First Trustees Limited and FBNQuest Merchant Bank Limited to take possession of Nestoil’s assets pending the determination of the substantive case.

However, a closer examination of the case records reveals that the controversy surrounding this injunction is what certain parties are trying to divert attention from by attacking the Chief Judge. Specifically, the Federal High Court made ex parte orders that were identical in all respects to the Motion on Notice and the Originating Summons.

Granting such far-reaching orders ex parte, without hearing both parties, effectively determines the substantive suit prematurely, something courts are cautioned against.

Moreover, while Order 5 of the ruling empowered the Receiver to take over Nestoil’s assets under Receivership for preservation, Order 8 curiously empowered the same Receiver to dispose of those assets, including the sale of crude oil—two contradictory directives.

Additionally, Order 7 extended assistance not only from the Nigerian Police but also from the Navy and DSS, an unusually broad scope of enforcement for an ex parte order.

Given these procedural irregularities, petitions were rightly submitted to the Chief Judge by affected parties. Justice Tsoho, acting within his constitutional authority, directed the trial judge to respond and to stay proceedings temporarily. This was done not to influence the outcome but to protect the integrity of the judiciary and ensure a fair review of the allegations.

It is, therefore, false and defamatory for Sahara Reporters to claim that the Chief Judge asked Justice Dipeolu to recuse himself or that he plotted to reassign the case. There was never any “case manipulation scheme” to punish a judge for independence or reward a litigant for bribery. Similarly, the insinuation that the Chief Judge’s office “manufactured” complaints to justify transferring the case is a malicious fabrication.

For the record, the Chief Judge’s office neither initiated nor engineered any petition. These complaints originated from the parties involved in the suit, who exercised their right to question procedural fairness. It is equally untrue that Justice Tsoho was preparing to bypass the Court of Appeal by invoking administrative powers to reassign the matter. The Nigerian judicial system is built on separation of powers and procedural hierarchy, and Justice Tsoho has consistently upheld those principles throughout his distinguished career.

Sahara Reporters’ claim that Justice Tsoho and businessman Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi have maintained a “close relationship for years” is another baseless insinuation, aimed purely at defaming a man known for his impartiality and discipline. Justice Tsoho’s reputation for fairness and adherence to judicial ethics speaks for itself; he has never been associated with acts of favouritism or corruption.

In sum, this publication by Sahara Reporters is yet another attempt to blackmail a respected judicial officer and undermine public confidence in the Federal High Court. Regrettably, a platform that once claimed to champion accountability has now become a tool for vendetta and disinformation.

Justice John Terhemba Tsoho deserves commendation, not condemnation, for maintaining the sanctity of the judiciary amid attempts to drag it into public controversy. Nigerians must see through these coordinated attacks and stand by the institutions that safeguard our democracy and rule of law.

Adewole Kehinde is a public affairs analyst and writes from Abuja. Email; kennyadewole@gmail.com, 08166240846