The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has upheld the removal of Kabir Ibrahim as President of the All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN), effectively ending a prolonged leadership dispute within the organisation.
In the lead judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice Mohammed Danjuma, presiding over a three-member panel, affirmed the decision of the Federal High Court delivered on 24 March 2022. The lower court had ruled that Ibrahim’s tenure ended in June 2019, in accordance with the AFAN Constitution, recognising Dr. Farouk Mudi as the legitimate president of the association.
The appellate court dismissed Ibrahim’s appeal (marked CA/ABJ/CV/554/2022) for lack of merit and awarded the sum of N200,000 in favour of the respondents. Justices Ali Gumel and Anthony Ogakwu agreed with the judgement.
The leadership crisis began after Ibrahim challenged the legitimacy of Mudi’s leadership, which was established through an election conducted by AFAN’s General Assembly in Kano on 10 April 2021.
In its earlier ruling, the Federal High Court—presided over by now-retired Justice Taiwo Taiwo—found that Ibrahim’s five-year term, which started on 14 June 2014, expired in June 2019, and that he was no longer entitled to hold office.
The court further ordered Ibrahim to transfer all association assets and property to Mudi, and barred him and members of his dissolved executive council from presenting themselves as AFAN officials.
In a separate case filed by Mudi against Ibrahim and his former executive, the High Court emphasised that the AFAN Constitution did not allow for any extension of tenure. It declared any claim by Ibrahim to remain in office beyond the specified term as invalid and granted all the reliefs sought by Mudi. This included a permanent injunction stopping Ibrahim from acting in any leadership role within the organisation.
With this recent judgment, Dr. Mudi is confirmed as the lawful and officially recognised President of AFAN, bringing closure to years of internal disputes that have troubled the organisation.
In a swift response, the new leadership of the farmers’ association has expressed profound gratitude to the judiciary for upholding truth and justice in the concluded legal matter concerning the leadership of our esteemed association.
According to a statement signed by Ademola Oyetunji, the Public Relations Officer of the South of the body, Mudi has been officially confirmed as the authentic and duly recognised National President of AFAN by the court.
“This landmark judgment brings to an end the prolonged confusion and distractions surrounding the leadership of our association. It reaffirms the confidence of Nigerian farmers in the rule of law and sets a clear path for unity, progress, and the repositioning of AFAN as a leading voice in agriculture and food security nationwide.
“Dr. Mudi, in his response to the judgment, has emphasised inclusiveness, reconciliation, and strategic action to reposition Nigerian agriculture for global competitiveness. He calls on all members—regardless of previous affiliations—to join hands in rebuilding a stronger, more effective AFAN,” he said.
Oyetunji assured all stakeholders—government agencies, development partners, agribusiness investors, and the farming community at large—that AFAN is now more united and focused than ever. “Under Dr. Mudi’s leadership, we are committed to policies and partnerships that will uplift farmers across the country.
“We thank all farmers, members, and supporters for standing firm and believing in the truth. The future of agriculture in Nigeria is bright—and AFAN is ready to lead the way,” he said.
