The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, and Justice Peter Lifu have asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a lawsuit filed against them by an official of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nkemakolam Ukandu.
The suit centers on allegations of bias and claims that the two judicial officers acted improperly in relation to an ongoing leadership dispute within the ADC.
During proceedings on Monday, counsel representing the judges informed the court that a preliminary objection and a joint statement of defence had already been filed in response to the case. He urged the court to consider the objection and questioned the basis for the action brought against the judges.
The plaintiff and the National Judicial Council (NJC), which was also listed as a defendant, were not represented in court when the matter came up for hearing. However, the court confirmed that hearing notices had been served on the parties involved.
After reviewing the situation, the presiding judge directed that all relevant court documents be served on the plaintiff and the NJC and adjourned the matter until June 30 for further mention.
The legal action stems from an internal ADC leadership dispute involving challenges to the appointments of the party’s interim national leaders. Ukandu had sought to join an existing case connected to the controversy but was unsuccessful.
He subsequently accused the two judges of bias and questioned the reassignment of the matter from one judge to another, arguing that the move conflicted with previous court decisions.
The dispute remains part of a broader legal battle over the leadership structure of the ADC, with related court proceedings expected to continue in the coming days.
