Court Delivers Costly Verdict in High-Profile ADC Legal Battle

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The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has directed the National Welfare Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nkemakolam Ukandu, to pay a total of N100 million in damages to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, and Justice Peter Lifu.

The ruling was delivered on Monday by Justice Salim Ibrahim, who ordered Ukandu to pay N50 million each to Justice Tsoho and Justice Lifu within 14 days.

The decision followed an oral application filed by counsel to the two judges, Mr. J. U. K. Igwe, SAN.

Before issuing the order, Justice Ibrahim struck out the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1165/2026, after holding that the plaintiff failed to prosecute the matter diligently.

Ukandu had instituted legal action against the National Judicial Council (NJC), Justice Tsoho and Justice Lifu, alleging judicial bias and disregard for court orders.

He had asked the court to compel the NJC to investigate allegations of corruption, abuse of judicial authority and bias allegedly committed by the two judges.

However, both the plaintiff and his legal representative repeatedly failed to appear before Justice Ibrahim after the matter was reassigned to his court.

On June 30, the judge had warned that the case would be struck out if Ukandu or his lawyer failed to appear at subsequent proceedings.

The dispute is linked to the ongoing leadership crisis within the ADC involving an aggrieved member of the party, Nafiu-Bala Gombe, whose substantive suit remains pending before Justice Lifu.

Gombe is seeking an order restraining the faction led by former Senate President David Mark from presenting itself as the legitimate leadership of the party.

Ukandu, who is seeking to be joined in that matter, accused Justice Tsoho and Justice Lifu of displaying bias and alleged that they were acting in favour of certain interests against the party.

In his originating application, Ukandu challenged the decision of the Chief Judge to transfer the leadership dispute from Justice Emeka Nwite to Justice Lifu, arguing that the reassignment was contrary to an earlier order issued by Justice Nwite as well as a judgment of the Supreme Court.

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