Alleged Bias: Court Orders ADC Chieftain To Pay FHC’s CJ, Justice Lifu N50m Each

Justice Salim Ibrahim of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Monday, ordered Mr Nkemakolam Ukandu, the National Welfare Secretary of the African Democratic Party (ADC), to pay the FHC’s Chief Judge (CJ), Justice John Tsoho, and Justice Peter Lifu the sum of N50m each.

The court, 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 N100 million be paid within 14 days of the order.

Justice Ibrahim struck out Ukandu’s case, filed against the National Judicial Council (NJC), Justice Tsoho, and Justice Lifu, for lack of diligent prosecution.

Ukandu had sued the NJC, the FHC CJ, and Justice Lifu over alleged bias and disobedience of a court order.

Ukandu, in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1165/2026, sought an order compelling the NJC to investigate allegations of corruption, abuse of judicial powers and bias levelled against Tsoho and Lifu.

Neither the plaintiff nor his lawyer had appeared before Justice Ibrahim since the matter was assigned to the judge.

The judge had, on 30 June, threatened to dismiss the Suit for the plaintiff’s or his lawyer’s appeal proceedings.