Federal High Court judge dies after collapse in Kano

A Federal High Court judge, Justice Mohammed Nasir Yunusa, serving at the Kano Division, has died after reportedly collapsing at his residence.

Sources said the judge slumped in his living room on Thursday evening and was rushed to a hospital, where medical personnel confirmed him dead on arrival.

According to officials of the court, he was later buried on Friday in accordance with Islamic rites.

A source within the Federal High Court in Abuja described the late judge as diligent and hardworking, noting that he handled several high-profile cases during his tenure.

The development was also confirmed by the Director of Information of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Catherine Oby Christopher, who said Justice Yunusa died at a medical facility in Kano.

The late judge was known for presiding over politically sensitive election-related matters, including rulings following the 2023 general elections.

In one of the cases, the court in Kano declined to nullify the candidacy of then Abia State governor-elect, Alex Otti, holding that the matter fell outside its jurisdiction.

Justice Yunusa also handled suits involving Labour Party candidates and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) arising from the 2023 elections.

In a related ruling, the court had earlier nullified the election of some Labour Party candidates in Kano, while clarifying jurisdictional limits in cases involving candidates in other states.

In one of the suits, a plaintiff, Ibrahim Haruna-Ibrahim, had asked the court to revoke certificates of return issued to Labour Party candidates across Kano, the 36 states, and the Federal Capital Territory. The case had the Labour Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission as respondents.