Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja restrained the House of Representatives from summoning 17 insurance CEOs over alleged ₦98.4bn debt.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the House Committee on Capital Market and Institutions, and two of its members from compelling the appearance of chief executives of 17 insurance firms over alleged indebtedness to the Federal Government.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the interlocutory order on Monday, August 18, after an application filed by the insurers members of the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), through their counsel, Prof. Taiwo Osipitan.
The House committee had earlier summoned the CEOs/MDs of the companies to appear on July 21, 2025, over allegations of non-remittance of multi-billion-naira revenues, a probe that reportedly involved 25 insurers.
However, the insurers argued that the National Assembly lacked constitutional authority to compel their appearance or demand operational records, insisting that they are already regulated by statutory agencies of the Executive, including the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
“The July 3 summons requiring us to submit operational records was aimed at recovering ₦98.4 billion allegedly owed to the Federal Government. This falls outside the legislature’s oversight mandate and amounts to an unlawful usurpation of executive powers,” the insurers’ counsel argued.
Justice Nwite agreed to halt the enforcement of the lawmakers’ directives pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The ruling effectively shields the CEOs of the 17 firms from attending the hearing session until the matter is resolved in court.
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