By Prevail Inegbenose
The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking to prevent the Judicial Service Committee of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the National Judicial Council (NJC) from considering the Director of Enforcement of the FCT High Court, Chukwuemeka Tony Ubani, for appointment as a judge.
According to Daily Post, the suit was dismissed on Thursday by Justice Inyang Ekwo following a notice of discontinuance filed by the plaintiff, Bizplus Consulting Services Ltd.
According to a report by Daily Post, counsel to the defendants, A.T. Kehinde, SAN, informed the court that the plaintiff had filed the notice after issues had been joined in the case.
Kehinde, who represented all the defendants, urged the court to dismiss the suit with costs.
In his ruling, Justice Ekwo held that the notice of discontinuance was deemed and proceeded to dismiss the suit.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2174/2026, arose from allegations by Bizplus concerning Ubani’s handling of efforts to enforce a judgment debt against the Benue State Government through funds held by United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc.
Bizplus had asked the court to restrain the FCT Judicial Service Committee and the NJC from screening, shortlisting, evaluating or recommending Ubani for judicial appointment pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The company also sought the suspension of any steps already taken in the selection process pending an investigation into the allegations surrounding the judgment enforcement dispute.
In an affidavit supporting its application, Bizplus, through its authorised representative, Dr Maurice Ibe, said it was a judgment creditor in suit No. FCT/HC/CV/3693/2025, involving the company and another party against the Benue State Government and another defendant.
The company stated that the FCT High Court issued a garnishee order absolute in the matter on December 4, 2025.
It alleged that Ubani, acting as Director of Enforcement, wrote a letter dated May 4, 2026, requesting police assistance to execute the judgment.
Bizplus claimed that the request was made under the court’s internal administrative procedure, which it said required written clearance from the Chief Judge before police assistance could be activated.
The company further alleged that police tactical officers attached to the Intelligence Response Team accompanied its representatives to UBA on September 4, 2026, to enforce the court order.
It also claimed that the court subsequently halted its internal enforcement processes after adverse applications were served, but that efforts to enforce the judgment continued with the assistance of armed police officers.
Ubani, however, challenged the suit through a preliminary objection, arguing that Bizplus lacked the legal standing to institute the action.
In an affidavit supporting his objection, he maintained that the company had failed to establish any legal right, personal injury or sufficient interest to justify its attempt to interfere with the judicial appointment process.
He also argued that any administrative complaint against him should be investigated and determined by the appropriate authorities.
Ubani further contended that the suit was premature and disclosed no reasonable cause of action against him and the other defendants.
Other defendants in the case were the FCT Judicial Service Committee, the NJC and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
