Fresh indications have emerged suggesting that the bribery allegations levelled against the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, are baseless and part of a calculated attempt to blackmail and distract the judiciary.
The reports, which claimed that Justice Tsoho was linked to a purported $5 million bribery scheme to influence a court decision involving Nestoil Limited in a $1 billion debt recovery dispute, have been described by credible judicial sources as false and mischievous.
Findings revealed that the controversy stems from three petitions written against Justice Dehinde Dipeolu, the trial judge handling Suit No. FHC/L/CS/2127/2025 — FBNQuest Merchant Bank Limited & Anor v. Nestoil Limited & Ors. One of the petitions was filed by the fourth defendant, while two others were submitted by the defendants’ counsel, Chief Mofesomo Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, to the Chief Judge.
In line with due process, Justice Tsoho merely directed the trial judge to respond to the petitions within seven days and to temporarily halt further proceedings in the matter pending his response, a standard administrative procedure meant to preserve judicial integrity.
The petitions followed the issuance of a Mareva injunction by Justice Dipeolu, granting FBNQuest Merchant Bank and First Trustees Limited the authority to take possession of Nestoil’s assets pending determination of the case. However, judicial analysts note that the ex parte orders granted by the court mirrored those sought in the substantive suit, raising questions about due process.
Further investigation revealed that the ex parte orders also directed the Nigerian Police, Navy, and Department of State Services (DSS) to assist the receiver in executing the court’s directives, an unusual provision that drew petitions from affected parties.
Contrary to the online reports suggesting that Justice Tsoho influenced the proceedings or requested the trial judge’s withdrawal from the case, official sources confirmed that he only acted within his constitutional powers to seek clarification on the allegations.
Reliable judiciary insiders have dismissed the bribery claims as a deliberate smear campaign aimed at distracting attention from the core legal issues in the ongoing Nestoil debt recovery suit.
They emphasized that Justice Tsoho’s conduct has been consistent with judicial ethics, describing the bribery allegations as “a pure case of blackmail and mischief.”
