A Federal High Court Judge in the Kano Division, Justice Mohammed Yunusa, has died after reportedly collapsing at his residence in Kano State.
According to reports, the late judge slumped in his living room on Thursday evening and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where medical personnel confirmed him dead.
His death was later confirmed by the Director of Information of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Catherine Oby Christopher, who said he passed away at a medical facility in Kano. He has since been buried according to Islamic rites.
Justice Yunusa was widely regarded as an experienced jurist who handled several politically sensitive and high-profile cases, particularly election-related disputes arising from the 2023 general elections.
Among the notable matters he presided over was a case involving a challenge to the candidacy of Abia State Governor-elect Alex Otti, which the court dismissed on jurisdictional grounds.
He also handled multiple suits involving the Labour Party and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), including petitions seeking to invalidate electoral outcomes and cancel certificates of return issued to candidates nationwide.
In another prominent ruling, a case seeking to nullify certificates of return issued to Labour Party candidates was struck out by the court for lack of jurisdiction.
Colleagues describe Justice Yunusa as a diligent and composed judge who contributed significantly to the judiciary, especially in electoral jurisprudence.
His passing marks another loss to the Federal High Court judiciary, with tributes expected from legal practitioners and judicial authorities in the coming days.
