The Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the House of Representatives Committee on Capital Market and Institutions from summoning chief executives of 17 insurance companies over an alleged N98.4 billion liability.
Justice Emeka Nwite, ruling on Monday, granted an injunction after the insurers, through the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), argued that they risked arrest and sanctions if compelled to appear before the lawmakers while the substantive case was pending.
The motion was filed by the insurers’ counsel, Professor Taiwo Osipitan, SAN, who insisted that the companies are regulated by executive agencies such as the National Insurance Commission, the Corporate Affairs Commission, and the Federal Inland Revenue Service not by parliament.
He argued that the lawmakers had invited the insurers in a July 3, 2025 letter, demanding documents to determine alleged indebtedness to the federal government. The insurers sought protection from what they described as unconstitutional overreach.
Justice Nwite observed that none of the respondents, including the Speaker of the House and Committee members, filed counter-affidavits. He held that where a party fails to respond after being served, it cannot later claim denial of fair hearing.
The judge agreed there were triable issues on whether lawmakers have constitutional powers to summon private-sector insurers to establish liabilities to government. He added that the balance of convenience favoured the insurers, whose businesses risked disruption through arrests, while lawmakers “would lose nothing” by waiting for the court’s decision.
Accordingly, the court restrained the Committee from summoning or compelling appearances by the insurers’ CEOs pending determination of the substantive suit. The matter was adjourned to September 9, 2025.
The NIA had earlier condemned the probe as “legislative overreach,” warning that the Committee’s actions undermined its mandate to protect member firms. The House, however, has maintained that it is investigating alleged non-remittance of government revenues by 25 insurers.
