A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday, ordered the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to restore the registration of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) and accord it necessary rights.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to restore the registration of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), bringing an end to months of legal dispute over the status and leadership of the youth organization. 

Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Binta Nyako held that the deregistration of the NYCN by the CAC was unlawful and directed the commission to return the council's certificate of registration and accord it all rights and privileges due to a legally registered body. 

The court also recognized the Board of Trustees led by Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo as the legitimate leadership of the organization and ordered the dissolution of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) earlier set up to oversee the affairs of the council. 

The dispute arose in October 2025 when the CAC withdrew the NYCN's registration certificate, citing a prolonged leadership crisis and alleged breaches of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA). Following the action, an Interim Management Committee was constituted to manage the affairs of the council. 

However, Sukubo and other trustees challenged the decision in court, arguing that the commission exceeded its statutory powers by deregistering the organization and appointing an interim leadership structure without legal authority. 

In her ruling, Justice Nyako stated that while the CAC possesses regulatory oversight powers over incorporated trustees, it does not have the authority to determine the leadership of an organization or replace its governing body, especially when disputes relating to the organization are already before the courts. 

The judgment effectively restores the NYCN to its status before the deregistration and returns control of the organization to its recognized Board of Trustees. 

The ruling is expected to have wider implications for the regulation of incorporated associations in Nigeria, particularly regarding the limits of the powers of regulatory agencies in matters involving the internal administration and leadership of voluntary organizations.