FHC Chief Judge, Justice Lifu ask court to dismiss ADC chieftain’s suit against them

The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, and Justice Peter Lifu have asked the court to dismiss a suit filed by a chieftain of African Democratic Congress, Nkemakolam Ukandu, against them over allegations of bias.

Tsoho and Lifu told Justice Salim Ibrahim of the FHC in Abuja through their lawyer, J.U.K. Igwe, SAN.

Igwe said a joint preliminary objection and defendants’ joint statement of defence had been filed against the suit.

He expressed dismay that a counsel could file such a case in court.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Ukandu, the National Welfare Secretary of ADC, had sued the National Judicial Council (NJC), the FHC CJ and Justice Lifu as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively, over alleged disobedience to court order.

Ukandu, In a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1165/2026, sought an order compelling the NJC to investigate allegations of corruption, abuse of judicial powers levelled against Tsoho and Lifu.

When the case was called on Monday, no lawyer appeared for Ukandu, the plaintiff, and the NJC.

However, Igwe announced his appearance for Tsoho and Lifu (2nd and 3rd defendants).

When Justice Ibrahim asked if hearing notices were not served on the plaintiff and the NJC, the registrar confirmed the proof of service from the court record.

“I want to see the proof of service of the hearing notice because I personally told them to ensure that all parties were duly served.

“Henceforth, you must ensure within 24 hours that all parties are duly served,” Justice Ibrahim said.

Igwe then told the court that a conditional of appearance, a notice of preliminary objection and a joint statements of defence had been filed.

He said all the processes were dated and filed on June 19.

“If it pleases your lordship, we can have a date for the hearing of our preliminary objection so that when we serve them, it will be known to them that it is for hearing,” he prayed.

The judge, however, said that the processes were not in the court file.

Justice Ibrahim subsequently adjourned the matter until June 30 for mention.

The judge, who ordered that the plaintiff and NJC be served with all the processes, directed that hearing notices should also be issued and served on the plaintiff and the NJC.

NAN observes that the suit stemmed from the ADC leadership crisis involving an aggrieved member, Nafiu-Bala Gombe, whose case is currently before Justice Lifu.

Gombe’s suit seeks an order stopping Sen. David Mark-led leadership of ADC from parading themselves as leaders of the party.

Ukandu, who is seeking to be joined in the suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, brought by Gombe, accused the CJ and Justice Lifu of manifest bias, and willingness to do the biddings of persons against the interest of the party.

Ukandu, in the suit he personally filed at the FHC, faulted the CJ for reassigning the suit to Lifu after it was taken away from Justice Emeka Nwite.

He said the reassignment was in disregard to the orders of the Supreme Court as well as Justice Nwite.