2027 Election Cases: CJN Warns Tribunal Judges, Says Conduct Will Be Monitored

Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has warned judges who may serve on 2027 Election Petition Tribunals to maintain strict impartiality and ensure that their conduct does not create any perception of political bias.

The CJN said judges handling politically sensitive election cases must remain detached and allow the law, rather than political considerations or public pressure, to guide their decisions.

Kekere-Ekun issued the warning in Abuja during the 2026/2027 legal year ceremony of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, where she stressed the importance of protecting public confidence in the judiciary ahead of the 2027 general elections.

She said judges could come under intense scrutiny while handling election-related disputes and urged them to be mindful of their conduct both inside and outside the courtroom.

According to her, judges must ensure that their associations, public engagements and other activities do not give the impression that they have taken sides in political disputes.

“Whether sitting in this Court or performing a Tribunal assignment, you must remain conscious that your conduct will be closely scrutinised,” she warned.

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The CJN urged judges to base their decisions strictly on the Constitution, electoral laws, binding judicial precedents and established principles of law.

She also cautioned lawyers and litigants against forum shopping and filing parallel cases in different courts in an attempt to obtain conflicting orders.

Kekere-Ekun said such practices could undermine the administration of justice and damage public confidence in the judiciary.

She further called for restraint in public commentary on ongoing judicial proceedings, warning against personal attacks on judges, deliberate misrepresentation of court proceedings and attempts to influence judicial decisions through public pressure.

The CJN said individuals with genuine complaints about judicial conduct should use the appropriate institutional channels rather than resorting to public campaigns.

Kekere-Ekun also raised concerns about the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in legal research, warning lawyers that some AI systems could produce fabricated cases, citations and quotations.

She reminded legal practitioners that they remained professionally responsible for verifying every authority presented before a court.

The warning comes as political parties, candidates and other stakeholders intensify preparations for the 2027 elections, with several pre-election disputes already expected to test the Nigerian judiciary.

The courts are likely to play a crucial role in resolving disputes arising from the electoral process, making judicial independence, impartiality and public confidence particularly important as the country approaches the polls.

2027 Election Cases: CJN Warns Tribunal Judges, Says Conduct Will Be Monitored

NSCIA Rejects Genocide Claims, Demands Urgent Security Overhaul

The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has rejected claims that Christians or any other religious community is facing genocide in Nigeria, saying the country’s insecurity affects citizens regardless of their faith.

The council, however, demanded an urgent and comprehensive reform of Nigeria’s security architecture, while supporting decentralised policing subject to constitutional safeguards, professionalism, impartiality, accountability, adequate funding and respect for fundamental rights.

The position was contained in a communiqué issued after the NSCIA General Assembly held at the Abuja National Mosque on October 1, 2026, under the theme, “Nigerian Muslims and the Imperative of Nation-building.”

The assembly was presided over by the Sultan of Sokoto and NSCIA President-General, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, with Islamic scholars, traditional rulers, Chief Imams, leaders of major Islamic organisations and delegates from across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in attendance.

On the country’s security challenges, the council said insecurity affects all Nigerians regardless of faith, rejecting attempts to frame the crisis as an attack on one particular religious group.

It urged the Federal Government to undertake a comprehensive review of the security system and improve coordination between federal and state security institutions.

The NSCIA backed state or decentralised policing, but stressed that any such arrangement must be built around professionalism, impartiality, accountability, sustainable funding, constitutional safeguards and protection of fundamental human rights.

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The council’s position comes amid continuing national debate over proposals to amend Nigeria’s constitutional framework to allow more decentralised policing.

Beyond security, the NSCIA urged the government to accelerate measures to reduce the rising cost of food and transportation, saying ordinary Nigerians were still facing significant economic hardship.

The council acknowledged efforts to revive the economy but called for faster action to ease the burden on households.

The Islamic body also cautioned against using religion to promote hatred, violence and division.

It urged Muslim scholars to resolve disagreements through internal mechanisms rather than publicly attacking one another, while encouraging Muslims to verify information before circulating allegations or claims that could damage individuals or deepen social tensions.

On religious rights, the council called on government institutions to respect the right of Muslim women and girls to wear the hijab, including female students, NYSC members, security personnel and Muslim women working in other organisations.

The NSCIA also criticised what it described as hostile positions by the University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University and the University of Lagos concerning Supreme Court judgments on hijab use in their international schools.

It urged the institutions to comply with the relevant court decisions and adopt more inclusive policies.

The council further called on the Rivers State Government and the management of Rivers State University to implement a Supreme Court judgment concerning the construction of a mosque for Muslim students at the institution.

Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the NSCIA urged Muslims to obtain their National Identification Numbers (NINs) and Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and participate actively in choosing leaders at all levels.

It said civic participation was part of the responsibility of citizens and encouraged Muslims to contribute positively to nation-building.

The council also encouraged Muslim organisations to promote economic independence through lawful investments and stronger administration of Zakat and Waqf as tools for sustainable poverty reduction.

On education, it called for greater emphasis on quality learning that combines Islamic knowledge with Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM).

The General Assembly also adopted the 2026 report of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and endorsed its recommendations for repositioning the Hajj industry.

The NSCIA additionally honoured its Secretary-General, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, for his contributions to education and national development during his tenure as JAMB Registrar from August 2016 to July 2026.

The council’s resolutions come amid continuing debate over religious violence, insecurity and allegations of persecution in Nigeria.

By rejecting a religious-genocide framing while demanding broad security reforms, the NSCIA said the country’s security crisis should be addressed as a national challenge affecting Nigerians across religious lines.

NSCIA Rejects Genocide Claims, Demands Urgent Security Overhaul

Breaking: PINL Drags Asari-Dokubo To DSS Over N2.7tn Pipeline Claim

Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) has petitioned the Department of State Services (DSS) over a claim by Niger Delta activist Asari-Dokubo that about N2.7 trillion is paid annually for pipeline surveillance contracts.

In the petition dated October 7, 2026, PINL described the allegation as false and inciting, arguing that the claim could expose its directors and senior management to security threats and undermine peace in the Niger Delta.

The company said Dokubo made the allegation in a video circulated on social media on October 5 while discussing pipeline surveillance contracts and other developments in the oil-producing region.

PINL urged the DSS to investigate the allegation, establish its source and invite Dokubo to provide evidence supporting the claim.

The company further asked that if the allegation is found to be false, Dokubo should publicly retract it and face any appropriate legal action.

PINL said the circulation of the claim could create the impression that huge amounts of public money were being diverted to particular individuals or interests, potentially fuelling resentment among communities in the oil-producing region.

The company also expressed concern that the allegation could heighten ethnic tensions involving Ijaw, Itsekiri and Urhobo communities, warning that renewed tensions could threaten security gains recorded in the Niger Delta.

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According to PINL, the security of oil infrastructure has wider implications for Nigeria’s crude oil production, government revenue and foreign exchange earnings, making stability in the region a matter of national importance.

The company said it had contributed to efforts to combat crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and militancy, and warned that any deterioration in security could affect national oil output.

PINL also asked the DSS to conduct a threat assessment and consider protection for its directors, management, employees and project sites.

The company’s petition comes amid a wider controversy over pipeline surveillance contracts in the Niger Delta, following Dokubo’s allegations involving the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, and other stakeholders.

The Olu of Warri has separately rejected the allegation that he receives N2.7 trillion annually from pipeline surveillance contracts.

Through his representative to NNPC Limited and its joint-venture partners, Collins Edema, the monarch challenged Dokubo to produce documentary evidence supporting the claim.

Edema also called for relevant pipeline surveillance contracts, procurement records, government approvals, corporate documents and performance reports to be examined if questions have been raised about the arrangements.

The monarch’s representative said allegations concerning the management of Nigeria’s oil infrastructure should be addressed through evidence and independent scrutiny rather than rhetoric.

The dispute has therefore widened from a public exchange over the alleged N2.7tn pipeline contract payments into a formal security complaint, with PINL asking the DSS to investigate the claims and determine whether they constitute a threat to individuals or public order.

The actual value, beneficiaries and terms of the pipeline surveillance arrangements remain matters for documentary verification and investigation.

Breaking: PINL Drags Asari-Dokubo To DSS Over N2.7tn Pipeline Claim