A Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the deregistration of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN, by the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, and disbanded the Interim Management Committee, IMC, it constituted for the Youth Council.
The CAC had, on October 7, 2025, withdrawn the certificate of registration of NYCN and derecognized the Ambassador Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo-led National Executive Committee.
The Commission cited alleged serial violations of corporate governance rules and the NYCN constitution. It subsequently constituted an Interim Management Committee to run the affairs of the Council for one-year.
Delivering judgment in a suit instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of the NYCN, Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court, Abuja, held that the CAC erred by deregistering the NYCN and setting up an IMC while the matter was still pending before the court.
The court described the action of the Commission as ultra vires, unlawful, and a usurpation of judicial powers.
Justice Nyako strongly frowned at the CAC for exceeding its regulatory powers by intervening in issues already subject to judicial determination.
The judge noted that while the CAC has statutory powers to regulate incorporated entities, it lacks the authority to determine leadership disputes within the Youth Council or take actions capable of prejudicing matters pending before the court.
She further held that issues relating to the legitimate leadership of the NYCN are matters for judicial determination, not administrative intervention.
Consequently, the court ordered the CAC to immediately reinstate the registration of National Youth Council of Nigeria and recognize the Amb. Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo-led National Executive Committee and other duly registered trustees as the legitimate leadership of the Youth Council.
The judgment re-affirms the principle of separation of powers and bars regulatory agencies from interfering in matters that are sub-judice.
Written by Yemisi Dada