Court Throws Out Tobenna Erojikwe’s Challenge To 2024 NBA Election, Awards N200,000 Costs

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lugbe Judicial Division, has dismissed a suit by Tobenna Erojikwe contesting the 2024 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Presidential election, upholding Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN’s landslide victory and closing a contentious chapter marked by allegations of electoral irregularities.

In a decisive ruling today, the FCT High Court in Lugbe struck out the legal challenge brought by Tobenna Erojikwe against the Incorporated Trustees of the NBA and two other defendants over his defeat in the 2024 NBA Presidential election. Mazi Afam Osigwe, SAN, emerged as the winner in a widely observed poll, but Erojikwe sought to overturn the outcome, alleging flaws in the electioneering process.

The court first addressed preliminary objections (P.O.) raised by the defendants. While it dismissed the objection from the 1st Defendant (the NBA Incorporated Trustees), it upheld those filed by the 2nd and 3rd Defendants. Moving to the substantive suit, the court ruled against Erojikwe on all issues presented in his Originating Summons, denying every relief he sought. Consequently, the suit was dismissed in its entirety, affirming Osigwe’s presidency.

Adding to Erojikwe’s setback, the court ordered him to pay N200,000 in costs to the 1st and 2nd Defendants, signaling a firm rejection of his claims.

The judgment puts to rest a dispute that had stirred the legal community, with Erojikwe and his supporters raising concerns over alleged irregularities during the election, though specifics of these claims were not substantiated in court.