Court dismisses Nneji’s bid to void arrest warrant

By Boye Oyeyemi

A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed an application filed by Ihuoma Julia Nneji seeking to set aside a warrant of arrest earlier issued against her over alleged criminal offences.

Justice M.G. Umar, in a ruling delivered on Monday, held that the application lacked merit and declined to interfere with the actions of the Nigeria Police Force in the matter.

Nneji, daughter of ABC Transport founder, Chief Frank Nneji, had approached the court to vacate the arrest warrant issued in favour of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CR/627/25.

The police had on April 16, 2025, declared her wanted over allegations of criminal defamation, injurious falsehood and cyberstalking following a petition reportedly submitted by Abuja-based lawyer, Henry Uzochukwu.

In her application, Nneji argued that the warrant should be nullified, contending that the order was improperly granted and should no longer subsist.

However, Justice Umar ruled that there was no sufficient legal basis to overturn the warrant, stressing that law enforcement agencies must be allowed to perform their statutory duties without undue judicial interference.

The court further held that the police were acting within their powers and that the warrant remained a valid order of the court until set aside by due process.

With the dismissal of the application, the arrest warrant against Nneji remains in force, leaving the police at liberty to enforce the order and require her to answer to the allegations levelled against her.