The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the removal of Kabir Ibrahim as President of the All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN), affirming an earlier ruling by the Federal High Court.
In a unanimous decision delivered on Thursday, a three-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Danjuma dismissed Ibrahim’s appeal, declaring it “devoid of merit.”
The appellate court affirmed the March 24, 2022 judgment by retired Justice Taiwo Taiwo, which had restrained Ibrahim from further parading himself as AFAN president.
Justice Danjuma, in the lead judgment, maintained that Ibrahim’s tenure had expired since June 14, 2019, and ordered him to relinquish all AFAN assets and property in his custody.
The court also awarded a cost of ₦200,000 against Ibrahim in favour of the Farouk Mudi-led AFAN.
Justices Ali Gumel and Anthony Ogakwu, who were also on the panel, agreed with the ruling.
The Federal High Court had earlier validated the April 10, 2021 election held in Kano by AFAN’s General Assembly, which produced Farouk Mudi as National President alongside other members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and National Executive Council (NEC).
Justice Taiwo had ruled that the AFAN constitution provides a five-year tenure for elected officers and confirmed that Ibrahim and his executive committee were inaugurated on June 14, 2014.
Therefore, their term ended on June 14, 2019.
The court concluded that Ibrahim had no legal basis to remain in office beyond that date.
