Lawyer May Petition CJN Over Alleged Mishandling of Court Letters

A lawyer representing a defendant in a criminal case at the Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, says he may petition the Chief Justice of Nigeria over delays and conflicting accounts about letters sent to the court’s Chief Judge. The letters sought the Chief Judge’s intervention, including a transfer of the case to another division of the Federal High Court. Lawyer Andrew Elekeokwuri said his first request was acknowledged in February 2026. He later sent follow-up letters after the case’s cause list repeatedly carried the note “AWAITING CJ RESPONSE.” He said a delegation that made enquiries in Abuja was told the letters had been sent to the Chief Judge, but his counsel was later informed they had been returned without being processed. Elekeokwuri asked the court’s Chief Registrar to establish when the letters were received, who handled them and whether they reached the Chief Judge. He also requested an explanation of the cause-list note and the preservation of relevant records. He said he was not alleging that any individual had personally withheld or interfered with the letters. He warned that he may submit a formal petition to the CJN if the court’s explanation is unsatisfactory or its records point to issues requiring further investigation.

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