By John Azu
The leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) took a fresh turn on Monday as a Federal High Court in Abuja fixed June 16 to rule on applications seeking the recusal of Justice Peter Lifu from a suit challenging the party’s leadership structure.
Justice Lifu also directed all parties to file and exchange their responses before the next adjourned date to ensure the matter proceeds without further delays.
The applications were filed by the ADC, its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, and a party official, Nkemakolm Ukandu, who are asking the judge to withdraw from hearing the suit instituted by a national officer of the party, Nafiu Bala-Gombe.
Bala-Gombe had approached the court over the ongoing leadership dispute within the opposition party, a case that has further exposed divisions among key stakeholders.
Arguing against the recusal applications, Bala-Gombe’s counsel, Lukman Fagbemi (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the requests, contending that the applicants failed to provide any evidence capable of justifying the judge’s withdrawal from the case.
Fagbemi also opposed Ukandu’s application for joinder, noting that the suit was initially before Justice Emeka Nwite before it was reassigned to Justice Lifu. He argued that, at the time the recusal applications were filed, the matter had not even been heard by Justice Lifu.
Earlier, counsel to the ADC, Shaibu Aruwa (SAN), informed the court that the party’s application, filed on June 2, sought an order directing Justice Lifu to step aside from the matter and return the case file to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment.
Similarly, Realwan Okpanachi, who appeared for Aregbesola, urged the court to grant his client’s application for recusal, which was also filed on June 2.
Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Adamu Bello, however, clarified that the electoral body had not filed any application seeking the judge’s withdrawal and was not opposed to him hearing the matter.
On his part, Ukandu’s lawyer, Kalu-Kalu Agu, told the court that his client had filed a petition against both Justice Lifu and the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court. He said Ukandu was also seeking a stay of proceedings pending the determination of the petition and a separate suit instituted against the National Judicial Council (NJC), the Chief Judge and Justice Lifu.
Agu argued that his client believed he could not obtain justice in the matter.
Justice Lifu, however, questioned the basis of the petition, expressing surprise that it was filed before his court had taken any substantive step in the case.
In a brief ruling, the judge held that Ukandu was not yet a party to the suit, as his application for joinder had not been determined.
“I cannot hear a prospective joinder who is not a party in the suit,” Justice Lifu ruled.
The court subsequently adjourned proceedings until June 16 for a composite ruling on all pending applications challenging the judge’s continued handling of the matter.
The outcome of the ruling is expected to determine the next phase of the legal battle over the ADC’s leadership and internal administration.