Andrew Elekeokwuri Petitions CJN Over Withheld Court Letters

• Lawyer Andrew Elekeokwuri plans to petition the Chief Justice of Nigeria over alleged mishandling of court letters in a criminal case.
• The letters sought the Chief Judge's intervention, including a request to transfer Charge No. FHC/WR/92C/2022, involving Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho, from Warri.
• Conflicting information from a Deputy Chief Registrar in Abuja raised questions about whether the letters reached the Chief Judge or were processed.
• Elekeokwuri has requested a full investigation into the correspondence's handling, including identifying officers involved and preserving all relevant documents.
• The lawyer's actions highlight concerns about Nigeria court correspondence delay and judicial administrative transparency within the Federal High Court Warri administration.

This incident highlights the critical importance for legal practitioners to meticulously track and confirm receipt of all correspondence with court administration, particularly when seeking intervention from senior judicial officers or requesting case transfers.

A lawyer representing a defendant in a criminal proceeding before the Federal High Court in Warri, Delta State, has indicated his intent to file a formal complaint with the Chief Justice of Nigeria. This action stems from alleged delays, the withholding, and improper handling of various court letters addressed to the Chief Judge concerning the case. Andrew Elekeokwuri, the lawyer, has already informed the Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court in Abuja about his intention to escalate the matter if the court’s administrative department fails to provide a satisfactory explanation for the missing correspondence.

The core of the lawyer complaint court letters revolves around Charge No. FHC/WR/92C/2022, a case involving the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho. The initial correspondence, dated February 9, 2026, sought the Chief Judge’s intervention, specifically requesting the transfer of the case from the Warri Judicial Division to another Federal High Court division. This first request was acknowledged by the Chief Judge’s Chambers on February 17, 2026.

Subsequent letters were dispatched on March 2, September 28, October 8, and October 15, all aimed at obtaining updates on the transfer request and an explanation for the recurring phrase "AWAITING CJ RESPONSE" on the case’s cause list. The situation escalated on October 29, when representatives from the Take It Back Movement, alongside a member of Elekeokwuri’s legal team, visited the Federal High Court in Abuja to make inquiries. They met with Joshua Ibrahim Aji, the Deputy Chief Registrar responsible for the Chief Judge’s special assistant, who reportedly stated that the letters had been sent to the Chief Judge’s residence and would be addressed by October 30. However, the following day, Elekeokwuri’s counsel was informed that the letters had allegedly been returned without being processed, with instructions to make further inquiries on November 4. This conflicting information prompted Elekeokwuri to question the chain of custody and whether the letters ultimately reached the Chief Judge.

The conflicting accounts regarding the handling of the court letters have raised significant concerns about the Federal High Court Warri administration. Andrew Elekeokwuri, in his November 3, 2026, letter, emphasized that he is not accusing Mr. Aji of personally obstructing or interfering with the correspondence. Instead, his primary objective is for the court administration to clarify Mr. Aji’s role, if any, in the process and to establish the factual timeline of events.

Elekeokwuri has formally requested the Chief Registrar to initiate a thorough investigation. This inquiry should ascertain when the letters were received, identify the specific officers who handled them, confirm whether they were properly recorded within the system, and ultimately determine if they reached the Chief Judge. Furthermore, he seeks an explanation for the persistent "AWAITING CJ RESPONSE" notation on the case’s cause list, specifically asking if it pertains to the request for case transfer.

To facilitate this investigation and ensure judicial administrative transparency, the lawyer has also demanded the preservation of all relevant documents. This includes receipt records, registers, internal notes, dispatch records, electronic transmission records, and any documentation indicating whether the letters were returned or resubmitted. This comprehensive request aims to provide the Federal High Court administration with every opportunity to establish the facts from its official records and resolve any existing discrepancies concerning the Nigeria court correspondence delay.

This incident highlights the critical importance for legal practitioners to meticulously track and confirm receipt of all correspondence with court administration, particularly when seeking intervention from senior judicial officers or requesting case transfers. The potential Andrew Elekeokwuri petition CJN court letters underscores significant administrative bottlenecks within the Nigerian judiciary and the imperative for proactive follow-up to prevent delays in case progression and ensure due process. The lawyer’s actions are a direct challenge to the opacity surrounding court administrative processes, demanding greater accountability.

The demand for a comprehensive investigation into the handling of these court letters reflects a broader need for judicial administrative transparency. When correspondence, especially those seeking the Chief Judge’s intervention, appears to be mishandled or delayed, it erodes public and professional confidence in the efficiency and integrity of the court system. The Chief Justice of Nigeria petition, if filed, would bring national attention to these administrative challenges, potentially prompting systemic reviews of how judicial correspondence is managed across the Federal High Court.

Elekeokwuri’s stance, providing the court administration an opportunity to clarify the facts before escalating the matter, emphasizes a commitment to resolving issues through established channels while simultaneously signaling a readiness to pursue higher intervention if necessary. This case serves as a crucial reminder that effective communication and transparent administrative practices are fundamental to the smooth functioning of justice and the protection of litigants' rights.

This incident highlights the critical importance for legal practitioners to meticulously track and confirm receipt of all correspondence with court administration, particularly when seeking intervention from senior judicial officers or requesting case transfers. It underscores potential administrative bottlenecks within the Nigerian judiciary and the need for proactive follow-up to prevent delays in case progression and ensure due process.

Source: Original reporting via PUNCH Newspaper