The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by Bizplus Consulting Services Ltd, seeking to stop the Judicial Service Committee of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and the National Judicial Council (NJC) from considering Chukwuemeka Tony Ubani for appointment as a judge. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2174/2026, was dismissed on Thursday, October 29, 2026, by Justice Inyang Ekwo.
According to court documents, Bizplus Consulting Services Ltd had approached the court seeking an order restraining the FCT Judicial Service Committee and the NJC from screening, shortlisting, evaluating or recommending Ubani for appointment as a judge. The company alleged that Ubani, as Director of Enforcement of the FCT High Court, mishandled an attempt to enforce a judgment debt against the Benue State Government.
The suit arose from a dispute involving Bizplus Consulting Services Ltd, which claimed to be a judgment creditor in a case against the Benue State Government. The company stated that the FCT High Court issued a garnishee order absolute in the case on December 4, 2025. However, the proposed enforcement operation was suspended after United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc objected, citing an order of the Court of Appeal.
Bizplus Consulting Services Ltd subsequently submitted an administrative petition against Ubani to the FCT Judicial Service Committee and the NJC, expressing concern that the allegations had not been resolved before his consideration for judicial appointment. The company then approached the Federal High Court to prevent the selection process from proceeding while the issues it raised remained outstanding.
In response, Ubani filed a preliminary objection challenging Bizplus's legal standing to institute the action. He argued that the company had not established any legal right, personal injury or sufficient interest that entitled it to interfere with the judicial appointment process. The other defendants in the suit were the FCT Judicial Service Committee, the NJC and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Counsel to the defendants, A.T. Kehinde, SAN, informed the court that the plaintiff had filed a notice of discontinuance. Kehinde urged the judge to dismiss the suit with costs. Justice Ekwo held that the notice of discontinuance was deemed and proceeded to dismiss the suit.
The dismissal of the suit means that the FCT Judicial Service Committee and the NJC can proceed with considering Ubani for appointment as a judge. The NJC and FCT Judicial Service Committee had been urged to investigate the allegations against Ubani before proceeding with his appointment.
Key points
- The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking to stop Chukwuemeka Tony Ubani's judgeship consideration.
- The suit was filed by Bizplus Consulting Services Ltd, which alleged that Ubani mishandled an attempt to enforce a judgment debt against the Benue State Government.
- The dismissal means that the FCT Judicial Service Committee and the NJC can proceed with considering Ubani for appointment as a judge.
