Judge’s absence stalls Niger parents, teachers lawsuit against state govt, others
A High Court sitting in Minna, Niger State has adjourned a suit filed by the Niger State Parent-Teacher Association, NIPTA, against the state government and others, challenging the illegal dissolution of NIPTA’s executive in the state.
When the case with suit number NSHC/MN/446/2025 scheduled for Monday, January 12, 2026 was called, the clerk announced the absence of the Judge, Justice Mikaila Abdullahi of the state High Court 2, thereby stalling proceedings.
NIPTA through its counsel, Abubakar Sadeeq Ma’aji, had filed a suit against the Niger State Ministry of Basic Education, Director General of Schools and Education Reforms, Hajiya Maimuna Mohammed, and the caretaker committee and seeking a declaration that the dissolution of its executive in November 2025 was unlawful.
The association is also seeking an injunction to restrain the caretaker committee headed by Hajiya Maimuna Mohammed appointed by the state government from taking any step or performing any such function that will insinuate or give the committee the status of caretaker of the plaintiff pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The counsel to the plaintiff stated that “the ex-parte motion and the hearing of the suit was slated to commence Monday, the 12 of January, 2026, only for the court clerk to come into the court room to announce the absence of the Judge for today. I wonder why they (respondents) are still parading themselves as caretaker committee with the case still in court “.
The court adjourned the case to January 21 for commencement of hearing.
Reacting to the development, NIPTA’s chairman, Malam Yunusa Adamu, in an interview shortly after the sitting, expressed concern that the caretaker committee is still operating despite the pending court case while urging them to desist.
“The illegal caretaker committee chairman and his cohorts are still going about masquerading themselves even with the ongoing court case. There is need for them to desist from such act pending the outcome of the case”.
