The Federal High Court in Abuja has temporarily restrained the House of Representatives Committee on Capital Market and Institutions from summoning the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) and 17 insurance companies over its probe into alleged ₦98.4 billion liabilities owed by non-government-funded insurance firms in Nigeria.
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the restraining order on Monday, noting that the insurers’ chief executives “stand the risk of being arrested” if compelled to appear while the substantive case is pending.
The ruling followed a motion on notice filed by the insurers’ counsel, Professor Taiwo Osipitan, SAN. Earlier, the judge had declined an ex parte application, directing the insurers to put the respondents on notice to enable them to respond.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Capital Market and Institutions, Hon. Kwamoti B. Laori, and Hon. Bob Solomon were listed as respondents in the suit.
Osipitan argued that the NIA, as the umbrella body of the insurance companies, represents firms that are regulated by the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and not the National Assembly. He maintained that the lawmakers’ July 3, 2025 summons demanding submission of operational documents amounted to an attempt to enforce alleged debts outside their constitutional powers.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite observed that the respondents failed to file any response to the motion despite being served. He held that the plaintiffs had raised serious triable issues, particularly whether the lawmakers possess constitutional authority to summon the insurers’ chief executives and demand financial records.
According to him, restraining the committee would not prejudice the House, whereas the insurers risked sanctions and possible arrests that could disrupt their businesses.
“I am of the view and so hold that the plaintiffs have a right deserving of protection through the grant of an injunction,” Nwite ruled.
The court adjourned the substantive suit to September 9, 2025, for hearing.
The NIA had earlier criticized the lawmakers’ probe, describing it as “legislative overreach.” The House Committee on Capital Market and Institutions recently began investigating 25 insurers over alleged multibillion-naira debts to the Federal Government.
