The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday ordered the National Welfare Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr. Nkemakolam Ukandu, to pay the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, and Justice Peter Lifu the sum of ₦50 million each.
Justice Salim Ibrahim, in a ruling on an oral application made by Mr. J. U. K. Igwe, SAN, counsel to Justice Tsoho and Justice Lifu, ordered that the total sum of ₦100 million be paid within 14 days of the order.
Justice Ibrahim had earlier struck out Ukandu’s suit against the National Judicial Council (NJC), Justice Tsoho, and Justice Lifu for lack of diligent prosecution.
Ukandu had sued the NJC, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, and Justice Lifu as the first, second, and third defendants, respectively, over allegations of bias and disobedience to a court order.
In the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1165/2026, Ukandu sought an order compelling the NJC to investigate allegations of corruption, abuse of judicial powers, and bias levelled against Justices Tsoho and Lifu.
It would be recalled that neither the plaintiff nor his lawyer had appeared before the trial judge, Justice Ibrahim, since the matter was assigned to him.
On June 30, Justice Ibrahim threatened to dismiss the suit after neither the plaintiff nor his counsel appeared in court for the proceedings.
The suit stemmed from the ADC leadership crisis involving an aggrieved party member, Nafiu-Bala Gombe, whose case is currently before Justice Lifu.
Gombe’s suit seeks an order restraining the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the ADC from parading themselves as the party’s leaders.
Ukandu, who is seeking to be joined in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 filed by Gombe, accused the Chief Judge and Justice Lifu of manifest bias and a willingness to do the bidding of certain persons against the interest of the party.
In the suit, which he personally filed before the Federal High Court, the plaintiff faulted the Chief Judge for reassigning the case to Justice Lifu after it had been transferred from Justice Emeka Nwite, arguing that the reassignment was in disregard of the orders of both the Supreme Court and Justice Nwite.
