The Centre for Reform and Public Advocacy (CFRPA) has protested the transfer of a Federal High Court suit challenging the academic credentials associated with President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 presidential bid.
The suit, marked FHC/KN/CS/312/2026, was filed in June 2026 after the Independent National Electoral Commission published the credentials of presidential candidates ahead of the election.
CFRPA alleged that Tinubu’s published credentials did not include his academic qualifications, raising questions over his eligibility to contest the presidency.
However, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court reportedly ordered the case to be moved from the Kano Judicial Division to Abuja following an application by Tinubu’s legal team.
CFRPA’s Head of Legal, Kalu Kalu Agu, rejected the decision and urged the Chief Judge to reverse the transfer.
Agu argued that the circumstances surrounding the transfer could create an impression of bias, particularly because the application was reportedly made by lawyers representing Tinubu.
He also said moving the case to Abuja would impose additional financial and logistical challenges on the organisation, its witnesses and members based in Kano.
The lawyer described the transfer as a possible case of “forum shopping,” alleging that Abuja could provide a more convenient venue for Tinubu while reducing public scrutiny of the proceedings.
CFRPA maintained that the judiciary must not only be impartial but must also be seen by the public to be impartial.
The organisation therefore called for the case to remain in Kano, where it was originally filed.
Agu also challenged Tinubu to defend the allegations in court, questioning why the President would object to facing the case in Kano if there were no issues to conceal.
However, CFRPA’s allegations remain claims made in its statement and have not been established as facts by the court. Tinubu’s position on the transfer and the substantive allegations should be considered separately from CFRPA’s claims.
