Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has been transferred out of the federal capital territory as part of a redeployment exercise initiated by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta.

Abang became popular in recent times for delivering several controversial judgements, among which was ordering the removal of the Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, for alleged tax fraud.

He was also the Judge at the centre of the leadership crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, having ruled that the party’s national convention during which Ali Modu-Sheriff was removed as the PDP national chairman, was illegal, and that the former Borno State governor remained the authentic chairman of the party.

Also affected by the redeployment exercise was Justice Mohammed Liman of the Port Harcourt division of the federal high court.

Justice Liman on his part has consistently delivered series of favourable judgements for the Ahmed Makarfi-led faction of the PDP.

Recall that justice Liman was among the judges fingered by the Department of State Services, DSS, for corruption. His residence was also raided by the DSS but the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, got wind of the operation and stormed the place and prevented the Judge from being whisked away.

According to the redeployment letter, dated December 21, 2016 and addressed to “All Judges of Federal High Courts”, Justice Abang was redeployed from Abuja to Asaba Division, Delta State, while Justice Liman was redeployed from Port Harcourt to Enugu Division.

The Chief Judge of the federal high court explained that the reshuffling became necessary “in view of the fact some divisions are currently short of judges following the recent developments in the court.

He further stated that the “affected judges are expected to resume in their new divisions by January 30, 2017,” but “shall continue with the hearing of criminal cases currently before them.”

Other judges affected by the exercise include Justice A.O. Faji – Asaba to Lagos; Justice Mallong Hoommuk – Port Harcourt to Lafia; Justice S. Saidu – Lagos to Port Harcourt; Justice B.O. Quadri – Port Harcourt to Abuja and Justice R. M. Aikawa – Sokoto to Lagos.

Others are, Justice Saleh Idrissa – Kano to Sokoto; Justice J.K. Omotosho – Kano to Port Harcourt; Justice H.I.O. Oshomah – Lafia to Port Harcourt and Justice K.K. Dagat – Lagos to Kano.