The Nigerian business and economic environment is often shaped by what transpires in the courtrooms.

As of early 2026, about 165,905 cases were pending across all Federal High Court divisions nationwide.

According to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, 44,650 of these cases were civil in nature, comprising issues bordering on loans, oil disputes, financial services matters, shareholder return disputes, among others.

About 5,818 criminal cases, including money laundering cases, were pending as of early 2026.

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Judicial pronouncements on corporate matters not only enrich jurisprudence, but they can also affect how investors and stakeholders make financial decisions.

For instance, the Federal High Court in Abuja recently rejected a suit seeking to restrain the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) from probing alleged medical negligence complaints by patients.

Days later, the FCCPC and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) signed a fresh Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to cooperate on the faster resolution of consumer complaints.

According to court cause lists and hearing dates disclosed to Nairametrics by legal teams, a number of corporate cases are pending that could impact businesses and corporate life.

Here is a breakdown of corporate cases and their proceeding dates: 

Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) and 17 insurance companies vs House of Representatives and Others 

Professor Taiwo Osipitan, SAN, lead counsel for the insurers, sued the Speaker, House Committee on Capital Markets and Institutions Chairman, Hon. Kwamoti B. Laori, and Hon.

Bob Solomon, maintaining that his clients are privately funded entities conducting insurance business under the supervision of executive agencies — including the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) — and not the House of Representatives.

The Speaker had urged the court to dismiss a restraining suit filed by the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) and 17 insurance companies over the ongoing probe into alleged N98.4 billion liabilities involving non-government-funded insurance firms in Nigeria.

The legal response followed a temporary restraining order earlier granted by the court, stopping the House from summoning the NIA and the 17 insurers in connection with the probe, pending the hearing of the substantive suit.

The next hearing date is May 13, 2026.

Global Gas vs Shell 

An age-long Gas Processing Agreement (GPA) case between Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) and Global Gas and Refining Limited is pending at the Supreme Court, with the next hearing date fixed for May 22, 2026.

The case, which involves the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), was on February 23, 2026, adjourned indefinitely by the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Umar Mohammed, following notification that the parties were before the Supreme Court.

Nairametrics previously reported several adjournments in the case, in which Global Gas alleged that Shell failed to supply wet gas in accordance with the terms of their GPA dated March 15, 2002.

Global Gas had sought an order restraining the NUPRC from “approving, authorizing, consenting to, or otherwise granting permission for the $1.3 billion sale/divestment of the assets of the 1st Respondent (SPDC) to Renaissance Consortium.”

Shell’s legal team sought an order striking out Global Gas’s suit for lack of jurisdiction or, in the alternative, suspending the suit in view of a pending appeal at the Supreme Court.

FIRS vs Binance 

Top cryptocurrency platform Binance is facing separate suits by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) over alleged multi-million-naira tax evasion.

However, in March this year, Binance’s legal team told Justice Emeka Nwite that it was seeking an amicable resolution with the FIRS through an out-of-court settlement.

A report on the settlement has been fixed by the court for May 12, 2026.

EFCC vs Binance 

Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting cryptocurrency platform Binance on pending criminal charges bordering on alleged conspiracy to conceal the origin of proceeds of alleged unlawful activities in Nigeria, including $35.4 million.

A Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) official, Dr. Olubukola Akinwunmi, Director of Banking Supervision, recently concluded his testimony against Binance as an EFCC witness.

The case was adjourned to May 15, 2026, for continuation of the trial.

EFCC vs Ex-Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman 

Convicted by the Federal High Court on May 6 over N33 billion fraud charges, former Minister of Power, Saleh Mamman, is due for sentencing on May 13, 2026.

Central to the case is the alleged diversion of public funds from the Mambilla and Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant projects by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The court confirmed that the ex-minister conspired with other ministry officials and some private companies to indirectly divert and convert about N22 billion through various private companies, in contravention of relevant laws.

The sentencing is expected to send signals to investors on how Nigerian courts treat large-scale corruption.

An arrest warrant has also been issued against him.

The Zungeru plant is Nigeria’s largest hydropower project and ranks among the biggest power initiatives in Africa to secure a preferential loan facility from the Export-Import Bank (Exim Bank) of China.

EFCC vs Abubakar Malami and Others 

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and former Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, are embroiled in separate forfeiture proceedings and an alleged money laundering case involving the ex-minister, his companies, and some properties linked to him.

Malami insists that all the properties were acquired with legitimate funds and declared to the Code of Conduct Bureau long before the EFCC’s move.

The money laundering case was adjourned to May 13, 2026, for continuation of trial.

EFCC vs Ex-Minister Sadiya Umar-Farouq 

A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, April 16, 2026, ordered the arrest of former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, and a Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Bashir Nura Alkali, over an alleged $1.3 million and N746 million fraud.

Justice Jude Onwuegbuzie issued the arrest warrant, according to a statement by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The judge adjourned the matter until May 18, 2026, for arraignment and trial.

Note: Court hearing dates, though fixed, are subject to change at the discretion of the court.