NYCN leadership restored as Sukubo returns after CAC setback

By Abubakar Yunusa

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the restoration of Ambassador Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo and other recognised trustees of the National Youth Council of Nigeria as the legitimate leadership of the organisation, nullifying actions that led to their removal.

The judgment also dissolved the Interim Management Committee headed by Buhari Shehu, which had been constituted by the Corporate Affairs Commission and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development to oversee the affairs of the youth body.

The decision was contained in the Certified True Copy of the judgment in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2142/2025, delivered by Justice Binta Nyako on June 5 and dated June 11. The document was made available to journalists in Abuja on Monday.

The suit was instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of the NYCN and Ambassador Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, who serves as the council’s President and Secretary of the Board of Trustees, against the Registrar-General of the CAC, the commission, the Minister of Youth Development and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development.

In the judgment, Justice Nyako held that although the CAC possesses regulatory powers over incorporated trustees, such authority does not extend to determining leadership disputes or replacing officials of registered associations through administrative actions.

The dispute stemmed from the withdrawal of the NYCN’s certificate of registration by the CAC on October 6, 2025, despite the certificate having been issued on October 28, 2020. A day after the withdrawal, the commission, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Development, inaugurated a nine-member Interim Management Committee led by Shehu.

Aggrieved by the development, Sukubo and another applicant challenged the legality of the actions, arguing that provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act relied upon by the CAC conflicted with constitutional safeguards on freedom of association and judicial oversight.

They further maintained that previous judicial pronouncements had invalidated Sections 839 and 851 of CAMA and contended that it was unlawful to take steps affecting the NYCN while related proceedings remained pending on appeal.

Justice Nyako ruled that the commission exceeded its statutory powers by withdrawing recognition from the existing trustees and establishing an interim structure to take over the organisation’s administration.

According to the judgment, the practical effect of the intervention was the displacement of an existing leadership structure in a dispute already before the judiciary.

“The Corporate Affairs Commission undoubtedly possesses regulatory powers over incorporated trustees,” the judgment stated. “Those powers however cannot be exercised in a manner that effectively determines a live dispute already awaiting judicial determination.”

Describing the intervention as premature, the judge held that the actions altered the status quo and had the tendency to undermine ongoing proceedings.

She consequently directed the CAC to immediately restore the NYCN’s certificate of registration, recognise Sukubo and other duly registered trustees as the authentic Board of Trustees, and disband the Interim Management Committee.

The parties were also advised to await the outcome of pending appeals relating to the leadership dispute while maintaining the position that existed before the intervention.