From Godwin Tsa Abuja
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed June 16 to rule on applications seeking his withdrawal from the suit challenging the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under former Senate President, David Mark.
The date was announced yesterday after lawyers representing all parties adopted and argued the recusal applications before the court.
At the centre of the dispute is Nafiu Bala Gombe, former deputy chairman of the ADC, who filed the suit last year seeking to contest the election of the party’s national leadership.
The case has since travelled to the Supreme Court and back, returning to the trial court on April 30 with a directive for accelerated hearing.
The matter had earlier been before Justice Emeka Nwite, who, on May 8, adjourned it indefinitely, following a letter by Gombe to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, requesting a transfer to another judge. Justice Nwite had also asked parties to file copies of the Supreme Court’s judgment, which had ordered expeditious determination of all pending applications.
The case was subsequently reassigned to Justice Lifu.
He assumed jurisdiction on June 3 and after hearing counsel, he ordered an accelerated trial and adjourned to June 8 for arguments on all pending applications. When the matter came up yesterday, proceedings turned contentious as lawyers were identifying their processes.
Justice Lifu directed counsel to formally adopt their motions, urging his recusal on grounds of alleged bias against the ADC leadership.
Named as first to fifth respondents in the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, are the ADC, Senator Mark, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Chief Nwosu.
With the exception of Mark and INEC, all other respondents, including Nkemakolam Ukandu, the National Welfare Secretary of the ADC, who is seeking to be joined in the suit, urged Justice Lifu to either recuse himself, transfer the matter to another judge or stay proceedings.
Ukandu, represented by Kalu Kalu Agu, cited a petition against the Chief Judge and Justice Lifu pending before the National Judicial Council (NJC), as well as a separate court action against the NJC, Justice Tsoho and Justice Lifu filed the previous Thursday before the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Gombe’s counsel, Robert Emukpero, opposed all the applications, urging the court to dismiss them for lacking any credible evidence of bias.
After listening to all parties, Justice Lifu reserved ruling till June 16, when he will decide whether to step down from the case or proceed with its determination.
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