By Taiye Agbaje
Mr Nkemakolam Ukandu, the National Welfare Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has again asked Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja to withdraw from the suit filed against the leadership of the party.
Ukandu, in a motion on notice dated and filed on June 5 against the Nafiu-Bala Gombe’s suit recently reassigned to him, prayed the judge to recuse himself pending the petition before the National Judicial Council (NJC).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ukandu had, in the petition to the NJC, accused the Chief Judge (CJ) of the court, Justice John Tsoho, and Justice Lifu of alleged bias, corruption and disobedience to the Supreme Court orders in respect of Gombe’s case.
NAN recalls that Ukandu had, in a separate suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1165/2026 and filed on June 4, sought an order compelling the NJC to investigate allegations of corruption, abuse of judicial powers levelled against Tsoho.
The plaintiff, in the suit, had named NJC, Justice Tsoho and Justice Lifu as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.
Meanwhile, in the latest motion filed by his lawyer, Kalu-Kalu Agu, Ukandu, who is seeking to be joined in the Gombe’s suit, prayed the court for an order directing the new judge not to preside over the case, citing the NJC’s petition.
Alternatively, the applicant sought an order transferring the case file in the suit number: FHC/ABJ/C8/1819/2025 between Gombe against ADC and four others back to the CJ, pending the hearing and determination of his petition and his suit against the duo.
Ukandu, in addition, sought an order staying further proceedings in Gombe’s case against Sen. David Mark-led leadership of ADC, until his petition before NJC and the suit at the FHC are determined.
Ukandu predicated his motion for recusal on four grounds.
He said “the subject matter of the petition and the suit is on grounds of corruption, abuse of judicial powers, disobedience to court orders and bias by Hon. Justice John Tsoho and Hon, Justice Peter Lifu against the Applicant.’
He submitted that it would be in the interest of justice and respect for the protection of the sanctity of the judiciary that Lifu recuses himself from this suit and transfer the case file back to the CJ.
It would be recalled that the National Secretary of the ADC, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, had equally filed a similar motion against Gombe’s suit, asking Justice Lifu to recuse himself from the case.
Aregbesola, in the motion on notice dated and filed June 1 by his lawyer, Mohammed Sheriff, argued that the constitution guarantees every litigant a hearing before an independent and impartial panel.
Justice Lifu had on Wednesday ordered accelerated hearing in the matter, including the application of Ukandu, seeking to be joined as a party in the suit by Gombe.
The judge then fixed Monday for hearing of the suit.
Gombe’s suit seeks an order stopping Sen. David Mark-led leadership of ADC from parading themselves as leaders of the party.
He had argued that the emergence of Mark, Aregbesola and other NWC members as party’s leaders breached the provisions of the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.
Gombe had sued ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Ralph Nwosu as 1st to 5th defendants respectively in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025.
Nwosu was the former ADC National Chairman who stepped down for David Mark leadership of the party.(NAN)