Renowned Nigerian human rights activist and former National Human Rights Commission Chairman, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, has delivered a sharp critique of the Federal High Court, questioning its hesitation to swiftly issue a restraining order against U.S. authorities over President Donald Trump’s threat to intervene in Nigeria against terrorists, describing the matter as one of national importance.
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In a post on X (formerly Twitter) shared early Thursday, Odinkalu expressed his disappointment, drawing parallels to the court’s history of expedited rulings favoring powerful political actors.
“Am I the only one disappointed that we are still waiting on @FederalHigh to issue an order restraining the US….? No Omotoso? No Lifu? Where is @GovWike when #Nigeria needs him….?!” Odinkalu wrote, attaching a photo of the Federal High Court headquarters in Abuja. His remarks appear to allude to ongoing, sensitive legal proceedings aimed at halting potential U.S. actions, possibly involving extradition, asset freezes, or sanctions against a prominent Nigerian figure.
The comments come amid growing public frustration over perceived judicial partiality, particularly involving Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike, a frequent subject of Odinkalu’s critiques.
Odinkalu’s jab referenced Federal High Court judges, including Justice James Omotoso and Justice Peter Lifu, whose rulings have recently been pivotal in Wike-aligned political disputes. Critics argue that Omotoso’s interim injunctions, such as those maintaining the status quo in party leadership cases, have shielded pro-Wike factions from opposition challenges.
This is not Odinkalu’s first criticism of the court. In May 2024, he likened the Federal High Court under its current Chief Judge to “the private bedroom of @GovWike,” alleging it had become a venue for rulings favoring the minister’s political agenda, particularly in Rivers State defections and local elections. In November 2024, he branded Wike a “greedy glutton” for power, accusing him of judicial manipulation to halt opposition party conventions. More recently, a Federal High Court ruling blocked the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) 2025 national convention, a decision widely celebrated by pro-Wike lawmakers as a check on “impunity.”
Nigerians, increasingly weary of such patterns, have echoed Odinkalu’s concerns. Civil society groups and social media users argue that the judiciary’s perceived alignment with the executive undermines democracy, turning courts into instruments of political maneuvering rather than impartial arbiters of justice.
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