ADC takes legal action against Chief Judge Tsoho for court order disobedience

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has filed a lawsuit against the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho. They claim he disobeyed court orders.

The party also accused the Chief Judge of bias in their ongoing case before Justice Peter Lifu in Abuja. This case is about the leadership of the ADC led by David Mark.

The suit was filed on Thursday, June 4, by Nkemakolam Ukandu, the National Welfare Secretary of the ADC. The party also wrote to the National Judicial Council to ask them to get Justices Tsoho to reassign their case to a different judge.

Ukandu wants to be included in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, which was brought by Bala Nafiu against the Mark-led ADC. He accuses the Chief Judge and Justice Lifu of showing clear bias and doing the wishes of people against the party's interests.

In his court filing in Abuja, Ukandu criticized the Chief Judge for moving the case to Justice Lifu. He claims this was done without following orders from the Supreme Court and Justice Emeka Nwite, who was initially in charge of the case brought by Nafiu.

The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1165/2026 mentions that an appeal about Justice Nwite's decision went to the Supreme Court. On April 30, 2026, the Supreme Court ordered that Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 should go back to Justice Nwite for further hearing on pending applications.

Ukandu said that when the hearing started again with Nwite, the Plaintiff wrote to the Chief Judge asking for the case to be given to another judge. He noted that all the lawyers for the Defendants opposed this request.

"Hon. Justice Emeka Nwite then postponed the matter indefinitely until the Plaintiff's letter was served on all parties involved, and the outcome was known," Ukandu stated.

"Despite not following the Supreme Court's orders, the second Defendant misused his judicial powers to move the case to Justice Lifu," he added.

Ukandu further said that Justice Lifu went ahead to set a hearing for June 3, 2026, ignoring Nwite's orders.

He also mentioned that the ADC had alerted the public on May 7 that the Chief Judge intended to move the case to a judge who is friendly to the Plaintiff.

The ADC warned against this unethical move, but the Chief Judge still reassigned the case to Justice Lifu, who has been labeled a “Wike Judge.”

Ukandu claimed that Justice Lifu began to hear the case without serving a hearing notice to his lawyer, Kalu Kalu Agu. He said a well-known law professor, Chidi Odinkalu, accused the second Defendant of assigning all political cases involving Nyesom Wike to Justice Lifu.

"The latest accusation from Professor Odinkalu was reported by The GUARDIAN Newspaper, and I am sharing it here," Ukandu said.

He believes his case before Justice Lifu will not be fair since it involves Nyesom Wike’s interests. He accused Justice Lifu of ignoring important judicial principles and showing bias.

Ukandu expressed concern that the current judges seem untouchable and are not facing consequences for their actions.

He shared that he has sent complaints to the NJC and the Chief Justice of Nigeria about corruption and bias from the second and third Defendants. He wants the court to declare that the NJC should investigate complaints against judges and take action where necessary.

Ukandu is asking the court for an order to stop Justice Lifu from hearing Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, pending the investigation by the NJC.

He is also asking for another order for Justice Lifu to step down from the case due to corruption and bias, which he believes will affect the fairness of the trial.