₦airaland Forum

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday awarded a fine of one million Naira against the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its embattled National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, over the application seeking the judge’s withdrawal from the suit.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that ADC and Aregbesola had, in separate motions, asked Justice Peter Lifu to recuse himself from the suit filed by an aggrieved party member, Nafiu-Bala Gombe, citing alleged bias.

Delivering a ruling on Tuesday, Justice Lifu held that the motions lacked merit and were devoid of credible evidence aimed at frustrating the order of the Supreme Court for an accelerated hearing of the case.

The judge held that the reasons advanced in the affidavits by the applicants were extraneous.

According to him, the court has painstakingly considered all three processes by parties and by affidavit evidence; there is no iota of bias found.

“There is no element of bias being painted by the applicants as alleged,” he said.

The judge recalled that the motions for recusal were filed even when the court had yet to assume jurisdiction on the case.

“Where then is the element of bias in the motions for recusal?’ he asked.

The judge, who described the applications as “an abuse of court process”, said the motions were fundamentally defective.

“The law is settled that allegations of bias are grave allegations which are not made lightly.

‘Whoever alleges bias must provide clear evidence.

“It becomes apparent that the applicants have failed completely to prove the allegations.

“It is a cheap attempt to blackmail and intimidate the court.

“As I said, nobody can intimidate the court,” he said.

Justice Lifu held that judges should be careful to “accede to such baseless allegations so that they don’t allow litigants to choose judges that suit them.”

He further described the applications as “forum shopping”.

He said the applicants made the allegations so that the case could be assigned to another judge that would do their bidding.

“Parties cannot choose which court they should be heard in.

“Matters are assigned to judges by the administrative head of the court, and no applicant can choose who to hear and determine their matters.

“A judge must be firm in doing justice and not dance to the whims and caprices of counsel.

“No court worth its salt should allow this,” the judge said.

Justice Lifu, who said the entire application was based on speculation, said if allowed, lawyers could use this as a tool against the court when they know a case would not favour them.

According to him, if this application is granted in the absence of credible evidence, it will set a dangerous precedent.

“On the whole, I found no merit in the application, and it is hereby dismissed with N500,000 cost each against the applicants and in favour of the plaintiff,” the judge ruled.

Earlier when the case was called, a lawyer, Kalu-Kalu Agu, who appeared for Nkemakolam Ukandu, the National Welfare Secretary of ADC, challenged the judge from delivering the ruling, having ordered the deregistration of ADC in his judgement on Monday.

NAN reports that Agu, on behalf of Ukandu, had filed a motion seeking to be joined in Gombe’s suit.

The lawyer reminded the judge of his previous day’s judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister ADC, having failed to meet the constitutional threshold.

“My lord, the clerk of this court did mention the matter is slated for a ruling today.

“In view of your lordship’s ruling and the continuous existence of the 1st defendant (ADC) in this matter, and having been declared dead, I don’t see any reason why this ruling should continue.

“In your judgment, this court ordered INEC to deregister the 1st defendant. So in the eye of the law, the 1st defendant is not existing,” Agu submitted.

“Are you a party in this suit?” Justice Lifu asked.

“Yes, I am my lord,” Agu responded.

“Who joined you, or did you join yourself in your chambers?” the judge asked.

In his reaction, Gombe’s lawyer, Robert Emukpoeruo, SAN, disagreed with Agu’s submission that he was a party in the suit.

Emukpoeruo said he was yet to read the judgement mentioned by Agu; hence, it had no relevance in the instance proceedings.

He said by Order 9 Rule 14(4) of the court, until Ukandu is joined by the judge, he is yet to be a party.

When Agu attempted to respond to Emukpoeruo’s submission, the judge threatened to invoke the powers of the court on him.

Realwan Okpanachi, who appeared for Aregbesola; Suleiman Usman, SAN, lawyer to Sen. David Mark; and Peter Oyewole, who represented Chief Ralph Nwosu, also made their respective submissions.

In his ruling, Justice Lifu said the instant case was distinct from Monday’s matter, where a judgement was delivered against ADC.

After the ruling, the case was adjourned until June 23 for hearing of all pending applications.

NAN reports that Gombe, in the suit, is seeking an order restraining Sen. Mark, the embattled National Chairman of ADC; Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the National Secretary; and members of their interim National Working Committee (NWC) from parading themselves as the party’s leaders.

He had argued that the emergence of Mark, Aregbesola and other NWC members as the party’s leaders breached the provisions of the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.

Gombe had sued ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Ralph Nwosu as the 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’s leadership of the party

givedemwotowoto:
When you realize that this group of people supporting Tilumbu who are ready to be used for anything have infiltrated every sector of the system.

Nigerians have a fierce fight on their hands to reclaim their country

IJAYA001:
Why strangulating opposition in Democracy.

marlow1962:
Adc should just fold and disband, because the kind of fuckry they're onto these days.

iwaeda:
Wike Boasts Of Helping APC Use Judiciary To Kill Osun LG Funds Case, Warns Party Leaders Against Ingratitude

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has openly boasted that he assisted certain elements within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in deploying the judiciary to frustrate the Osun State local government allocation lawsuit.

In a video now circulating widely on social media and obtained by SaharaReporters, Wike made the claim while addressing a crowd in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The former Rivers governor accused the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, of benefitting from judicial actions against the Osun State Government without knowing those who did the work behind the scenes.

The suit in question led to the withholding of local government funds in Osun State, a development widely seen as targeting the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke as opposition in the state.

Wike, who spoke angrily, suggested that the court action supporting the APC’s position against the Osun government did not happen by chance, boasting that powerful political forces worked quietly to ensure the outcome.

“Don’t take our support for Mr President for granted,” Wike warned, in an apparent message to APC leaders defending Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara. “You have to be careful about the statements you make. You have to be very careful.”

He accused Basiru of political ingratitude, claiming the APC was enjoying in Osun State without understanding who engineered their advantage.

“Today, you are enjoying in Osun. You don’t know those who did the work,” Wike said. “You are opening your mouth to talk about Rivers State.”

https://saharareporters.com/2026/01/08/wike-boasts-helping-apc-use-judiciary-kill-osun-lg-funds-case-warns-party-leaders

Minister Wike has warned the National Secretary of the APC, Ajibola Basiru to stay clear of Rivers State.
Lol 😆 https://t.co/sNKjJfb8qn pic.twitter.com/E9SgSwASil

— Emma ik Umeh (Tcee )🇳🇬 (@emmaikumeh) January 5, 2026

vanitybutiwanti:

They are pressing Atikus neck

anonimi:
May 1, 2025

May Day: Hunger, unemployment, insecurity real— Tinubu

According to him: “The theme demands our collective attention and serves as a stark reminder of the need to create an environment where every worker feels safe, valued, and empowered to contribute to the growth and prosperity of our nation. As your President, I assure you that this administration is committed to creating such an environment for the common good.”

On the economic hardship, he noted that while it is a global phenomenon, its effects on Nigerians are particularly severe.

Tinubu said: “I am aware of the peculiarities of the economic hardship Nigerians face—rising living costs, hunger, insecurity, unemployment, and the loss of livelihoods. These challenges are real and demand definitive solutions, which I am poised to address as your President.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/05/may-day-hunger-unemployment-insecurity-real-tinubu/

DMCA:
Nigeria has no opposition party

givedemwotowoto:
When you realize that this group of people supporting Tilumbu who are ready to be used for anything have infiltrated every sector of the system.

Nigerians have a fierce fight on their hands to reclaim their country

OgwuEgo:
Same werey Judge that ordered the deregistration of ADC yesterday, you will soon be suspended by NJC if you continue this rascally Judgement.

Obaofaba:
The question is, what did the Constitution say?

Unless he breached the law, nothing can happen to him.

I love his doggedness.

He's a man iron balls.

God bless him and justice omotosho, they are our heroes.

anonimi:
How is that something worthy of exposing your 32 outside

OgwuEgo:
Inyang Ekwo just finished serving one year suspension without pay recently, he should continue.

Obaofaba:
What's the offense of justice Lifu?

Interpreting the constitution rightly ?

fergie001:
Na NJC I just dey watch.

A very puerile body