The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has ordered Nkemakolam Ukandu, National Welfare Secretary of the African Democratic Party, ADC, to pay a total of N100 million to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, and Justice Peter Lifu.
Justice Salim Ibrahim gave the order on Monday while ruling on an oral application made by J. U. K. Igwe, counsel to Justices Tsoho and Lifu.
The court ordered Ukandu to pay N50 million each to the two judges within 14 days.
Justice Ibrahim also struck out the suit filed by Ukandu against the National Judicial Council, NJC, Justice Tsoho and Justice Lifu, citing lack of diligent prosecution.
Ukandu had dragged the NJC, the Chief Judge and Justice Lifu before the court 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 which he levelled against Justices Tsoho and Lifu.
However, neither Ukandu nor his counsel appeared before Justice Ibrahim since the matter was assigned to the judge.
Recall that on June 30, Justice Ibrahim had threatened to dismiss the case if the plaintiff or his lawyer continued to stay away from proceedings.
The suit was linked to the ongoing ADC leadership crisis involving an aggrieved member of the party, Nafiu-Bala Gombe, whose case is currently pending before Justice Lifu.
Ukandu had earlier approached the court in connection with complaints arising from the handling of the ADC leadership dispute, seeking judicial intervention and NJC investigation into the conduct of the judges mentioned in the suit.
With the latest ruling, the case has now been struck out, while the plaintiff has been ordered to pay N100 million as costs to the two judges.
(NAN)
The post “Lack Of Diligence” — Court Strikes Out ADC Chieftain’s NJC Bias Suit, Orders ₦100m Payment To Justices Tsoho, Lifu appeared first on TheNigeriaLawyer.
