BREAKING: NJC Overrules Edo Chief Judge, Directs Justice Eboreime To Resume Mike Igini’s N5Billion Defamation Suit Against Ex-Edo APC Chair

The National Judicial Council (NJC) has directed the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, to reassign a four-year-old defamation suit filed by former Akwa Ibom State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mike Igini, against retired Colonel and former Edo State APC Chairman, Col. David Imuse.

The case stems from statements made by Imuse in 2020, on the eve of the Edo State governorship election. During a press conference in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area, Imuse alleged that Igini was seen leaving the private residence of then-Governor Godwin Obaseki around 3:00 a.m., accompanied by the governor’s associates and carrying a ‘Ghana-Must-Go’ bag allegedly filled with cash.

Imuse further claimed that the money was intended to induce Igini to help rig the September 21, 2020, governorship election in favour of Obaseki, who had defected from the APC to the PDP after being denied the party’s ticket for a second term.

Legal Action and Parties Involved

Angered by the allegations, Mike Igini wrote to Col. David Imuse demanding a retraction and a public apology, warning that failure to comply would prompt legal action.

When Imuse refused to meet the demands, Igini, a former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), filed Suit No. B1/555/2020 at the Edo State High Court. He joined The Sun Newspapers and African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc (publishers of Tribune titles) as second and third defendants, respectively.

In the suit, Igini is seeking a retraction of the defamatory claims, a formal apology from Imuse, and N5 billion in damages. The case was initially assigned to Justice V.O. Eboreime of the Edo State High Court.

Controversial Transfer of the Case

Despite significant progress in the case — with Igini having closed his case and the second and third defendants also concluding their defence — the Chief Judge of Edo State later reassigned the matter to a new judge to begin afresh.

Igini, dissatisfied with this decision, petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC) on November 5, 2024, arguing that restarting the case would unfairly benefit the first defendant, Imuse, whose inaction had already delayed the proceedings for four years.

NJC Rules in Igini’s Favour

A letter obtained by SaharaReporters on Wednesday revealed that the NJC ruled in Igini’s favour and directed that the case be returned to Justice V.O. Eboreime to continue from where it left off and be concluded.

A letter dated July 18, 2025, from the Office of the Secretary of the National Judicial Council (NJC), and signed by Ahmed Sambo Saleh, Esq., informed Mike Igini that the Council had decided Justice V.O. Eboreime would resume and conclude the case.

The letter read, “Your petition dated 05 November 2024, on the above subject matter and the response to same by Hon. Justice Daniel Iyabosa Okungbowa, Chief Judge, Edo State, were considered by the National Judicial Council at its 109th Meeting, held on 26 June 2025.

“Council finds that the 1st Defendant wrote a petition against Hon. Justice Eboreime to the Chief Judge of Edo State, alleging bias and seeking transfer of this advanced partly heard matter to another Judge.

“Incidentally, the petition was not served on the Plaintiff, 2nd and 3rd Defendants before the Chief Judge transferred the case to another Judge to start de novo.

“Council also finds on record that when the Plaintiff, 2nd and 3rd Defendants got wind of the transfer, they objected on the grounds that they had closed their cases, were not consulted and starting de novo would cause them financial and physical hardship.

“Furthermore, Council finds that the Chief Judge exercised his discretion in favour of the 1st Defendant alone and without consideration of the interest of the Plaintiff, the 2nd and 3rd Defendants.”

“Council has therefore resolved to advise the Chief Judge to transfer the matter to Hon. Justice Eboreime to continue and determine the case,” it added.

Chief Judge Cautioned by NJC

At its 109th meeting held in June and presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the National Judicial Council (NJC) issued a caution to the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, over what it described as an abuse of judicial discretion in Suit No. B1/555/2020.

The Council also advised Justice Okungbowa to ensure that he exercises his discretion more judicially and judiciously in future proceedings.

This followed Igini’s petition, faulting the move by the Edo CJ to start his suit de novo.

Details from Igini’s Petition

In his petition to the NJC, Igini stated, among other concerns, that: “I regret to inform your Lordship that it was only after I had closed my case and it was adjourned for the defence that I was served with the 1st defendant’s Statement of Defence, which he filed on September 27, 2022, but maliciously delayed serving on me for over a year. In response, my lawyers filed a Reply and sought an order for recall. However, the 1st defendant’s counsel opposed this request, despite it stemming from its own failure to file a defence for three years, waiting until I had closed my case. Arguments were heard on May 22, 2024, and the matter was adjourned for ruling.

“On July 16, 2024, the 1st defendant again sought to delay proceedings, arguing that the trial judge had been transferred to a nearby Okada division and could no longer preside over the matter. Arguments were taken by counsel to all the parties, including co-defendants that vehemently opposed the submission, after which the trial judge ruled that she was authorized by the Chief Judge’s warrant to continue presiding over the matter. She granted my recall based on the belated defence filed by the 1st defendant in the interest fair hearing and I was subsequently cross-examined after adopting my additional Statement on Oath.”

In the petition, Igini stated that the court adjourned the case to August 2, 2024, at the request of Col. David Imuse’s (Rtd) lawyer, to allow time for defence preparation.

Meanwhile, the 2nd Defendant, The Sun, and the 3rd Defendant, Tribune, each presented and concluded their cases by calling one witness—Ayodele Oluwasuyi from Enugu and Lukeman Olabiyi from Ibadan, respectively.

After cross-examinations, both defendants closed their cases, leaving only Col. Imuse, the 1st defendant, yet to present his defence.

“On August 7, 2024, around 9:00 a.m., I contacted the Registrar of Hon. Justice Eboreime’s Court to inquire about the new adjourned date for this suit, as the Court could not sit on August 2, 2024, due to the nationwide ‘End Bad Governance’ protests. To my shock, I was informed of the Chief Judge’s directive that the matter be reassigned to another judge to commence de novo,” he added.