A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Eze Chukwuemeka Eze, has described Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court as an anti democratic judicial officer.
Eze alleged that the judge is acting as a mole for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, with the aim of weakening opposition political parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Friday, Eze claimed that Justice Lifu and others like him are being used by politicians seeking to influence judicial decisions against perceived threats to President Bola Tinubu’s reelection ambitions.
He said, “It is not a matter of insinuation or broad daylight allegation or even blackmail. They don’t want any opposition. Mr President is jittery and paranoid over the forthcoming presidential election. For instance, can Justice Peter Lifu make an order or reprimand anything Wike? Certainly not. That’s how bad it is.
“The judge has made mockery of himself as a cheap tool in the hands of his paymasters for the destruction of the opposition. We understand the pressure on him but must he do a hatchet job for the APC to the detriment of the entire judiciary?”
Eze accused Justice Lifu of displaying excessive zeal by allegedly ignoring an Appeal Court order directing a stay of proceedings in the suit seeking the deregistration of certain political parties.
He added, “Nigeria’s judiciary was kidnapped the day the APC government led by late Muhammadu Buhari attacked, arrested and prosecuted the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, and other Supreme Court justices for reasons we all knew about.
“Since then, some judicial officers like Justice Lifu, for fear of the unknown, have relegated their apolitical status to the trash bin, and embraced the satanic hugs of civilian despots and devious politicians clothed in democratic robes.
“Thank God we still have courageous, patriotic and bold Judicial officers who dispense justice based on pure law, and without fear or favour.”
The ADC chieftain further criticized the Federal High Court judge for allegedly going against established judicial precedents in a bid to satisfy what he described as the agenda of “drowning political misfits” fearful of opposition due to poor governance.
Eze, a former National Publicity Secretary of the defunct New Peoples Democratic Party, nPDP, commended the Court of Appeal and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for challenging what he described as Justice Lifu’s judicial misconduct.
“Though we know in all these shenanigans the target is to stop the ADC presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, the incoming President from participating in the 2027 general elections but they will fall as Nigerians are ever determined to kick them out from Aso Rock all things being equal no matter the odds.
“The fear of Atiku/Amaechi ticket is the beginning of wisdom for Tinubu.
“Thanks to the Appeal Court for staying the fraudulent and unpopular judgement. We hail INEC this time for challenging the shameful judgement that purportedly ordered deregistration of both ADC and four other parties,” he added.
Eze subsequently called on the National Judicial Council, NJC, to investigate and sanction Justice Lifu over actions he said have further damaged public confidence in Nigeria’s judiciary and undermined the rule of law.
