Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja has refused a request to recuse herself from a contentious suit filed by the Rivers State House of Assembly, which seeks to halt federal fund allocations to local governments in the state.
On Friday, Justice Abdulmalik dismissed accusations of bias leveled against her by the defendants, emphasizing that her conduct has been impartial despite ruling against some of the defendants in four previous instances.
The Rivers State House of Assembly and its Speaker, Martin Amaewhule, filed the suit, represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Joseph Daudu. The suit demands that funds intended for local governments be withheld, challenging the state’s administration of these allocations.
However, the Rivers State Accountant General, represented by SAN Tuturu Edem, filed a motion accusing Justice Abdulmalik of handling the case in a biased and “strange” manner.
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Edem argued that her previous rulings seemed unfavorable to the Rivers State government and asked for the case to be transferred to the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt.
Supporting the Accountant General’s position, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other defendants echoed concerns over the judge’s impartiality. They questioned the judge’s adherence to procedure and sought her withdrawal from the case.
However, Justice Abdulmalik firmly rejected these claims, stating, “I am not biased as alleged,” and reiterated her commitment to maintaining judicial neutrality.
She also declined the request to transfer the case to Port Harcourt, clarifying that the Federal High Court holds jurisdiction across the nation and that case assignments fall under the Chief Judge’s discretion.
Asserting her authority to preside over the matter, Justice Abdulmalik ordered that proceedings on the main suit and preliminary objections move forward uninterrupted.
This decision marks a significant moment in the case, as the court prepares to address the broader implications of the Assembly’s suit on local government finances in Rivers State.