By Amos Tauna, Kaduna
KADUNA – The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has filed a lawsuit against the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, and the National Judicial Council (NJC), accusing them of manifest bias against the party.
The suit, dated and filed on 4 June by the ADC’s National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, also names Justice Peter Lifu, who was recently assigned to hear a case challenging the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the ADC. The plaintiff seeks to be joined in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, originally brought by Nafiu Bala Gombe, and alleges that both Justice Tsoho and Justice Lifu have shown a willingness to act at the behest of individuals working against the party’s interests.
Separately, a civil society group, the Grassroots Mobilisation Network (GMN), has accused Justice Lifu of acting for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its agents. GMN Secretary General, Usman Bala Idris, alleged in Abuja on Wednesday that Justice Lifu is “the FCT Minister’s, Chief Nyesom Wike, judge working for Tinubu”.
“The case between ADC and Nafiu Bala was deliberately assigned to Lifu to derail the main opposition ADC and stop its candidate from participating in the 2027 election,” Mr Idris claimed. He accused the judiciary of being deployed as a political weapon, adding: “What we are seeing is not justice, it is judicial manipulation to favour the ruling party. Lifu is not acting as a judge, he is acting as an APC operative in a robe.”
Mr Idris further stated that Nigerians and opposition parties no longer trust Justice Lifu’s judgements, citing past rulings that “defied logic”. The GMN warned the Federal High Court in Abuja not to truncate democracy, saying “the consequences will be disastrous for the country”.
“Whatever happens to our democracy, the likes of Lifu will be held responsible,” Mr Idris said. “Nigerians will remember those who sold their conscience for pecuniary favours.”
He alleged a coordinated plot to weaken alternative voices ahead of 2027 and called on elder statesmen and the international community to intervene. “If the courts continue on this path, the faith of the people in democracy will collapse,” he warned.