By TAIYE AGBAJE

Mr Nkemakolam Ukandu, the National Welfare Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has sued the Chief Judge of Federal High Court (FHC), Justice John Tsoho, over alleged disobedience to court order.

Ukandu, In a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1165/2026 and filed on Thursday, sought an order compelling the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate allegations of corruption, abuse of judicial powers levelled against Tsoho.

The plaintiff who named the NJC as 1st defendant, listed Tsoho and Justice Peter Lifu as 2nd and 3rd defendants respectively in the suit.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the fresh suit stemmed from the ADC leadership crisis involving an aggrieved member, Nafiu-Bala Gombe, whose case is currently before Justice Lifu.

NAN reports that Justice Lifu was recently reassigned to hear Gombe’s suit following the announcement of the name of the former trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, among the 12 new justices elevated to Appeal Court.

Gombe’s suit seeks an order stopping Sen. David Mark-led leadership of ADC from parading themselves as leaders of the party.

Ukandu, who is seeking to be joined in the suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, brought Gombe, accused the CJ and Justice Lifu of manifest bias, and willingness to do the biddings of persons against the interest of the party.

Ukandu, in the suit he personally filed at the FHC, faulted the CJ for reassigning the suit to Lifu.

He said the reassignment was in disregard to the orders of the Supreme Court as well as Justice Nwite.

The plaintiff recalled that an appeal from an interlocutory decision of Justice Nwite rose to the Supreme Court, wherein the apex court on April 30, “made an order of remittance of Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025: Gombe VS. ADC & 4 ORS back to Justice Emeka Nwite for continuation of hearing of pending applications challenging the jurisdiction of the trial court.”

Ukandu stated that upon resumption of hearing before Nwite, the Gombe wrote to the CJ, praying for a reassignment of the matter to another judge.

“All the defendants’ counsel including counsel to the applicants seeking to be joined in this matter opposed the said application by the plaintiff (Gombe)’s counsel.”

He said Justice Nwite adjourned the matter sine die pending the service of the said letter by the plaintiff’s on all the parties in the matter, outcome of the letter by the 2nd defendant (Mark) and the furnishing of the CTC of the judgement of the Supreme Court to the court.”

According to Ukandu, without complying with the orders of the Supreme Court and Justice Emeka Nwite, the 2nd defendant (Tsoho), in abuse of his judicial powers, reassigned the matter.

He added that Justice Lifu (3rd defendsnt) on his part, pretending not to see the order of Justice Nwite, went ahead and fixed the matter for hearing for June 3.

Ukandu further recalled that ADC had, on May 7, informed the whole world through a press release that the CJ had planned to reassign the case to another judge favourable to the plaintiff.

Hr added that the party had “warned against such unethical practice but the 2nd defendant, despite the public outcry, reassigned the suit to the 3rd defendant who have been nick-named as ‘Wike Judges’.”

According to him, the 3rd defendant had started presiding over the matter despite taking judicial notice of the orders of the Supreme Court and Justice Emeka Nwite, and that the matter came up for hearing before the 3rd defendant.

While claiming that no hearing notice was served on his lawyer, Kalu Kalu Agu, in respect of the proceedings of June 3, Ukandu alleged that Justice Tsoho was accused by a renowned Professor of Law, Professor Chidi Odinkalu, of assigning all political cases that Nyesom Wike has interest in to Justice Lifu to hear and determine.

“The latest accusation made by the erudite Professor of Law against the 1st and 2nd defendants was published by The GUARDIAN Newspaper and the Claimant hereby reproduces same hereunder and it is hereby pleaded:

“The plaintiff believes as his matter, pending before the 3rd defendant’s court in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, affects Nyesom Wike’s interest, he would not get justice.

“The 3rd defendant has consistently disregarded the doctrine of stare decisis which is one of the hallmarks of the judicial system and has displayed clear bias against me.

“Nyesom Wike is the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory in the cabinet of the President of Nigeria and he supports the president’s reelection aspiration.

“Nyesom Wike is believed to be the cause of the protracted internal crises bewildering the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and does not want a strong opposition political party to exist to contest against the president of Nigeria in 2027 Presidential Election.

“The 2nd and 3rd defendants are handling the plaintiff’s matter as if they are untouchable and no judicial consequences for their wrongful actions and/or inactions”, he averred.

He wants the court to make a declaration that it is the responsibility of the NJC to investigate complaints against judicial officers and mete out sanctions accordingly.

Ukandu prayed the court to direct the NJC “to investigate the allegation of corruption, abuse of judicial powers, disobedience to court orders and manifest bias against the 2nd and 3rd defendants.

He also sought an order of injunction, restraining the 3rd defendant from continuing to preside over Gombe’s suit, pending the hearing and determination of the petition to the NJC.

Ukandu equally sought an order directing Justice Lifu to recuse himself from further hearing in the suit. (NAN)

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