Senior lawyers on Tuesday challenged Justice Peter Lifu of the Abuja Federal High Court over his decision to continue hearing a suit against the leadership of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, despite a judgment that reportedly proscribed the party a day earlier.
The lawyers argued that following Monday’s judgment, which ordered the deregistration of ADC, the party had become legally nonexistent and could no longer be the subject of further judicial proceedings.
At the resumed hearing of the suit filed by factional ADC National Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe, Dr. Suleiman Usman, SAN, representing David Mark, Realwan Okpanachi, representing Rauf Aregbesola, and Kalu Agu, counsel for Nkemakolam Ukandu, demanded clarity on the legal status of the party before proceedings could continue.
Their argument was based on Justice Lifu’s judgment delivered on Monday, which directed the Independent National Electoral Commission, Independent National Electoral Commission, to immediately deregister five political parties, including ADC.
According to the lawyers, once ADC was deregistered, it effectively became “dead” in the eyes of the law, leaving nothing for the court to adjudicate upon.
During tense exchanges in court, the legal team insisted that clarification on the party’s status would determine whether they should remain in court to represent their clients or withdraw entirely.
Justice Lifu, however, asked whether the lawyers had obtained and thoroughly reviewed the Certified True Copy of the judgment. They responded in the negative.
The judge then directed them to first study the judgment, explaining that the matter concerning deregistration was distinct from the leadership dispute involving David Mark.
Meanwhile, Justice Lifu on Tuesday refused to recuse himself from the ADC leadership dispute.
Delivering ruling on an application filed by David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola seeking his withdrawal from the case, Justice Lifu dismissed the request, describing it as baseless and without merit.
He ruled that allegations of bias, partiality, and prejudice raised by the defendants were unsupported by credible and verifiable evidence.
The judge further held that the recusal application was part of attempts to frustrate the speedy hearing of the matter as directed by the Supreme Court, adding that he would not bow to intimidation or pressure from any party.
“No responsible court of records will dance to the whims and caprices of a litigant. No court must fall to cheap blackmail and intimidation.
“As for me, I can never be intimidated or harassed. A judge must be bold, courageous and firm. This is what I stand for. Court exists to do justice and not to do the bidding of any party,” he said.
Following the dismissal of the recusal application, Justice Lifu imposed a fine of N500,000 each on David Mark and Aregbesola, payable to the plaintiff, Nafiu Bala Gombe.
The matter has been adjourned to June 23, 2026, for further hearing.
