28th November, 2025

What you need to know About Federal High Court and State High Court !

Federal High Court nor the State High Court is necessarily “higher” than the other. Instead, they have different jurisdictions and areas of expertise.

The Federal High Court has exclusive jurisdiction over specific matters outlined in Section 251 of the 1999 Constitution, such as:
– Cases related to:
– Federal laws and regulations
– Arms and ammunition
– Drugs and poisons
– Citizenship
– Tenure of office for state-level officials

On the other hand, State High Courts have unlimited jurisdiction over matters outside the exclusive list of the Federal High Court, including:
– Civil and criminal cases
– Property disputes
– Contract disputes
– Family law cases

Both courts are considered high courts and have coordinate jurisdiction, but they operate within their respective domains.

– Key differences:
– Jurisdiction: Federal High Court has exclusive jurisdiction over specific matters, while State High Courts have broader jurisdiction over other cases.
– Areas of expertise: Federal High Court handles cases related to federal laws and regulations, while State High Courts handle cases related to state laws and local matters.

In summary, the hierarchy between Federal High Court and State High Court in Nigeria is more about their areas of jurisdiction rather than one being superior to the other.

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