Court Fixes Date to Rule on Judge’s Recusal in ADC Leadership Case
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed June 16 to rule on applications seeking his withdrawal from a suit challenging the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under the interim leadership of David Mark.
The judge adjourned the matter on Monday after lawyers representing parties in the case adopted and argued their applications requesting that he recuse himself from further proceedings.
The suit was filed by a former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC, Nafiu Bala Gombe, who is contesting the party’s leadership structure and the emergence of its national leadership.
Although the ADC is opposing the suit, the matter had previously reached the Supreme Court, which directed the trial court to conduct an accelerated hearing of all pending applications. The case was subsequently returned to the Federal High Court on April 30.
Justice Peter Lifu was recently assigned to handle the matter after Justice Emeka Nwite, who had earlier presided over the case, adjourned proceedings indefinitely following a request by Gombe for the matter to be transferred to another judge.
The case was later reassigned to Justice Lifu, who assumed jurisdiction on June 3 and ordered an accelerated hearing of all pending applications.
At Monday’s proceedings, disagreements among lawyers over various applications prompted the judge to direct counsel to formally adopt their motions seeking his recusal over alleged bias in favour of the ADC leadership.
The ADC, Senator David Mark, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Chief Ralph Nwosu are listed as the first to fifth respondents in the suit.
While INEC and one of the respondents opposed the recusal request, several parties, including ADC National Welfare Secretary Nkemakolam Ukandu, urged the judge to step aside, transfer the case, or stay proceedings, citing alleged bias.
Ukandu’s counsel, Kalu Agu, argued that petitions against the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, and Justice Lifu currently pending before the National Judicial Council (NJC), as well as a separate court case involving the NJC and the judges, justified the request.
However, counsel to Gombe, Robert Emukporo (SAN), asked the court to dismiss the applications, insisting there was no evidence to support allegations of bias.
After hearing arguments from all parties, Justice Lifu reserved ruling on the applications until June 16, when he will decide whether to continue handling the case or withdraw from it.
