The African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Campaign Council has launched a scathing critique against the leadership of the Federal High Court, alleging a orchestrated effort to manipulate judicial proceedings through the suspicious transfer of a high-stakes case. The party contends that the reassignment of a matter previously presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite to Justice Peter Lifu was executed with undue haste, disregarding a formal protest submitted to the Chief Judge, Justice John Tsoho.
According to the ADC, the transition of the case occurred immediately after they alerted the Chief Judge to their concerns. The party asserts that this sequence of events points toward a deliberate attempt at forum shopping, as Justice Nwite had not recused himself from the proceedings. The ADC leadership, represented by National Secretary Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, had formally communicated their lack of confidence in Justice Lifu’s impartiality on June 2, yet the Chief Judge finalized the transfer the following day.
The ADC is now demanding the immediate release of the full judgment issued by Justice Lifu. Party officials argue that the delay in providing official documentation obstructs their legal right to seek redress at the Court of Appeal and prevents the appellate bench from reviewing a complete judicial record. Furthermore, the party has questioned how Justice Lifu’s recent orders can stand when they appear to contradict a previous, certified judgment by Justice Musa Liman. In that prior ruling, Justice Liman had dismissed a challenge to the ADC’s leadership, affirming the party’s internal structure and the recognition of its national officers by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Concerns regarding Justice Lifu’s conduct are not entirely new, according to the campaign council. The ADC recalled a previous instance in which Justice Lifu ordered the deregistration of several political parties—including the ADC—despite an existing stay of proceedings from the Court of Appeal. That specific intervention was famously rebuked by the appellate court as “judicial impertinence” and was ultimately nullified.
The party’s statement also placed the spotlight on Chief Judge John Tsoho, calling on him to address mounting public concerns about his office. Referencing ongoing inquiries and allegations involving the Chief Judge and his family, the ADC stated that if the judiciary is facing external pressures, it is imperative for the leadership to demonstrate transparency. They argued that the integrity of the judicial process must not be compromised by the personal or political predicaments of those at the helm of the legal system.
The ADC urged the National Judicial Council (NJC) to conduct an exhaustive review of the case transfer, the formal protests filed by the party, and the broader conduct of the involved jurists. Warning against the dangers of allowing the judiciary to become a theatre for political warfare, the council stressed that the sanctity of the courts is essential to national stability.
“The law is on our side, not sentiment,” the campaign council stated, reiterating that they intend to pursue their grievances through the appellate process. They further called on the ruling party to shift its focus from courtroom maneuvers to the political arena, asserting that the right of Nigerians to choose their leadership through the ballot box must remain inviolable.
Source: NaijaProbe