Nigerian Judge Dies After Sudden Collapse

A Federal High Court judge attached with the Kano State Division, Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa, has reportedly slumped and died at his residence.

It was learnt that the judge, who collapsed in his living room was rushed to a hospital where he was pronounced dead by the medical personnel on duty.

Sources within the Federal High Court in Abuja on Saturday said that the judge has been buried on Friday in accordance with Islamic rites.

“Yes, the judge died Thursday evening and he has been buried. He was very hardworking during his lifetime. You know he handled many high-profile cases and dispensed justice accordingly,” one of the sources explained.

The Director of Information of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Catherine Oby Christopher, confirmed the development, saying Justice Yunusa died at the State Medical Centre in Kano.

ValidViewNetwork reports one of high-profile cases the judge handled was in the aftermath of the 2023 general elections when the Federal High Court in Kano State denied nullifying the candidature of then Abia Governor-elect, Alex Otti.

Recall that the court, had at the time, nullified the election of the candidates for Kano Labour Party that contested during the 2023 general election.

Justice Yunusa, however, held that the candidates who participated in the 2023 general elections in Abia were not parties before his court.

“This court lacks jurisdiction to make an order for the issuance of certificate of return. They are at liberty to seek redress in the appropriate Division of the court” he had said.

ADVERTISEMENT

The matter arose when a plaintiff, one Ibrahim Haruna-Ibrahim, filed an application, seeking the court to revoke and set aside the certificate of return issued to all LP candidates declared winner in Kano and the 35 states of the Federation including the FCT Abuja.

The respondents in the suit were the Labour Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).