Fresh controversy erupted at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday as senior lawyers challenged Justice Peter Lifu over his decision to continue hearing a suit involving the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), despite a previous ruling ordering the party’s deregistration.
Counsel representing key figures in the party argued that the court’s judgment delivered on Monday, which directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties, including the ADC, effectively rendered the party non-existent in the eyes of the law.
The lawyers, led by senior advocate Dr. Suleiman Usman, representing former Senate President David Mark, alongside Realwan Okpanachi for Rauf Aregbesola and Kalu Agu for Nkemakolam Ukandu, demanded clarification on the legal status of the ADC before further proceedings could continue.
According to them, if the party had indeed been deregistered, there was no legal entity left for the court to adjudicate upon.
The heated courtroom exchanges saw the lawyers insist that the judge’s clarification would determine whether they should continue representing their clients or withdraw from the proceedings altogether.
In response, Justice Lifu questioned whether the lawyers had obtained and studied the Certified True Copy (CTC) of his judgment. When they answered in the negative, the judge advised them to first review the ruling, maintaining that the deregistration matter was distinct from the case challenging the party’s leadership under David Mark.
Meanwhile, Justice Lifu dismissed an application filed by David Mark and Aregbesola seeking his recusal from the case.
In his ruling, the judge described the allegations of bias, prejudice and partiality levelled against him as baseless and unsupported by credible evidence.
He further held that the application was an attempt to frustrate the speedy determination of the suit, stressing that the judiciary must not succumb to intimidation or pressure from litigants.
“No responsible court of record will dance to the whims and caprices of a litigant. No court must fall to cheap blackmail and intimidation,” Justice Lifu declared.
“As for me, I can never be intimidated or harassed. A judge must be bold, courageous and firm. This is what I stand for. Court exists to do justice and not to do the bidding of any party.”
The court subsequently dismissed the recusal application and imposed a fine of N500,000 each on David Mark and Aregbesola, payable to the plaintiff, factional ADC National Chairman Nafiu Bala Gombe.
Justice Lifu adjourned the matter until June 23, 2026, for further hearing.
