The criminal proceedings involving child rights advocate and human rights activist, Comrade Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho, are expected to resume at the Federal High Court, Warri Judicial Division, on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, amid a renewed push for the expedited and continuous hearing and determination of the long-running case.
Ahead of the hearing, Aghogho’s wife, Mrs. Hope Ighorhiohwunu, has sworn to a 26-paragraph Affidavit of Urgency seeking the prompt and continuous hearing and determination of Charge No. FHC/WR/92C/2022 and all pending applications.
The affidavit, sworn before the Commissioner for Oaths at the Federal High Court, Warri, on September 30, 2026, places particular emphasis on the Notice of Preliminary Objection filed on October 3, 2025, which, according to the deponent, remains pending and has not been finally heard and determined.
According to the affidavit, Mrs. Ighorhiohwunu acted with the full consent and authority of the defendant.
She stated that the criminal proceedings had remained pending for a prolonged period, while Aghogho continued to face the consequences of the proceedings and his detention.
The prolonged pendency of the case, she stated, had caused considerable hardship, financial difficulties, uncertainty and emotional distress to the defendant and his family.
The affidavit consequently urges the court to give urgent consideration to the pending applications and the substantive criminal charge in accordance with the Constitution, applicable laws and the Rules of the Federal High Court.
A major issue raised in the affidavit is the Notice of Preliminary Objection filed on October 3, 2025.
The document states that the objection remains unresolved and that its continued pendency has affected the effective and timely progression of the criminal proceedings.
It therefore seeks appropriate directions that would facilitate the continuous hearing and determination of the pending processes and the substantive charge.
The affidavit also draws the attention of the court to previous representations made by Aghogho and his counsel to the National Judicial Council, NJC, and other appropriate authorities concerning his detention, access to justice, the progress of the criminal proceedings and a request relating to the reassignment of the charge.
Particular reference was made to NJC correspondence dated July 26, 2026, with Reference No. NJC/F.3/FHC/71/1/110.
According to the affidavit, the NJC stated that there was no pending petition by the defendant or his counsel before the Council and that an earlier petition had already been responded to.
The correspondence also indicated, according to the affidavit, that the question of reassignment of a case falls within the administrative discretion of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.
The affidavit states that, to the best of the knowledge of the defendant and his counsel, there is no directive, order or communication directing that Charge No. FHC/WR/92C/2022 be stayed, suspended or otherwise halted.
It further states that Aghogho is not relying upon any directive of the NJC or the Chief Judge as a basis for delaying the proceedings.
Another development highlighted in the affidavit is a communication dated August 21, 2026, from the Secretariat of the Mandate of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders concerning a submission made in respect of Aghogho.
According to the affidavit, the UN communication requested further information concerning Aghogho’s role as a human rights defender, the persons for whom he had advocated, the criminal charges against him and the prosecution and judicial proceedings involving him.
The request also covered issues relating to prolonged detention, fair hearing and access to justice.
The affidavit expressly states that the UN communication is not being presented as a judgment, finding, determination or conclusion against the Federal High Court, any judicial officer, the Federal Republic of Nigeria or any other person.
Rather, it forms part of the documented history of Aghogho’s efforts to pursue available legal and human rights remedies.
The affidavit further highlights Aghogho’s human rights and child rights advocacy, particularly complaints and petitions concerning alleged illegal adoption, child trafficking and related child-protection issues in Delta State.
It refers to the disputed issue of an alleged Delta State Adopted Children Register dating from 1991.
According to the affidavit, Aghogho’s counsel raised the matter before appropriate authorities, including a reported position attributed to the National Population Commission that it had no record or knowledge of the existence of the alleged register.
The defendant has consequently requested that relevant official records concerning the alleged register, including records relating to its existence, custody, maintenance, transfer or availability, be preserved and appropriately verified.
The affidavit makes clear that the matters surrounding the alleged register remain allegations and disputed issues requiring investigation and lawful determination.
It also references proceedings instituted by Aghogho before the Community Court of Justice of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, in Suit No. ECW/CCJ/APP/28/2025.
The ECOWAS proceedings concern matters connected with his rights, detention, access to justice and related human rights complaints, while the criminal case remains pending before the Federal High Court in Warri.
Of particular note is the reference to the Statement of Defence filed by the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the ECOWAS proceedings.
According to the affidavit, the Nigerian government stated, among other things, that it was “not aware of the suit in reference.”
Aghogho’s counsel has relied on the statement as part of the documented procedural history requiring clarification, without presenting it as proof of misconduct against any individual or asking the Federal High Court to determine the ECOWAS proceedings.
The affidavit also refers to correspondence issued by the Federal Ministry of Justice dated December 12, 2022, concerning matters relating to Aghogho’s complaints and criminal proceedings.
According to the document, the correspondence referred to what was described as a multiplicity of actions involving the same parties and issues and advised the defendant to approach the court for dismissal of the charge in relation to the matters raised therein.
The affidavit further states that Aghogho submitted a petition addressed to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, drawing attention to the prolonged pendency of the criminal proceedings, his detention, the procedural history of the prosecution, relevant official correspondence, the ECOWAS proceedings and other matters which he considers to require investigation, clarification or administrative attention.
Against this background, the defendant’s position, as recorded in the affidavit, is that he is not seeking preferential treatment, undue advantage, interference with judicial independence or a determination of the charge outside the ordinary judicial process.
Instead, he seeks what the affidavit describes as a prompt, continuous, fair and expeditious hearing and determination of the charge and all pending processes in accordance with the Constitution, applicable laws and the Rules of the Federal High Court.
The deponent further expressed the belief that granting an expedited hearing and issuing appropriate consequential directions for the progression of the proceedings would serve the interests of justice and the proper administration of criminal justice.
With the matter scheduled for October 6, 2026, attention is expected to focus on the pending processes, including the preliminary objection filed in October 2025, as well as the request for an expedited and continuous determination of the criminal proceedings, subject to the directions and orders of the court.
For Aghogho and his family, the immediate issue remains the timely determination of the criminal proceedings through the ordinary judicial process.
Federal Republic of Nigeria v. Ighorhiohwunu Aghogho, Charge No. FHC/WR/92C/2022, is before the Federal High Court, Warri Judicial Division.
The Affidavit of Urgency was sworn on September 30, 2026, while the next hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
The key pending process highlighted in the affidavit remains the Notice of Preliminary Objection filed on October 3, 2025.