Court orders CAC to reinstate NYCN, dissolves interim committee

The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the deregistration of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN). Justice Binta Nyako ordered the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to reinstate the council's registration certificate and restore its board of trustees, led by Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo.

The court found that the CAC overstepped its statutory powers by withdrawing the NYCN's registration and forming an interim management committee. This committee, led by Buhari Shehu, was jointly established by the CAC and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development after the council's registration was revoked on October 6, 2025.

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The real question is whether those powers extend to the wholesale displacement of existing leadership structures.

The legal challenge was initiated by Sukubo and another claimant, who argued that the CAC's actions were unlawful. They contended that the provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020, used by the CAC to suspend trustees and appoint interim managers, were inconsistent with constitutional freedom of association. Furthermore, they cited previous court decisions that invalidated relevant sections of CAMA.

Justice Nyako emphasized that while the CAC has regulatory oversight, it cannot resolve leadership disputes or displace existing structures, especially when such matters are already before the courts. She noted that administrative agencies should exercise restraint and avoid actions that could prejudice ongoing judicial proceedings. The court also ordered the immediate dissolution of the nine-member interim management committee.

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The Commission may investigate.