Nobody Can Intimidate The Court – Judge Slams ADC, Aregbesola, Imposes ₦1m Fine

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, to pay a total of ₦1 million after dismissing their requests for the judge handling a leadership dispute in the party to step aside.

Naija News reports that Justice Peter Lifu gave the ruling on Tuesday, describing the applications filed by ADC and Aregbesola as lacking merit.

The judge said the claims of bias against the court were not supported by any convincing evidence.

The applications were filed in response to a suit brought by ADC member Nafiu-Bala Gombe, who is challenging the emergence of the party’s current leadership.

Gombe had asked the court to stop David Mark, Aregbesola and members of the party’s interim National Working Committee from presenting themselves as ADC leaders.

In separate motions, ADC and Aregbesola had requested that Justice Lifu withdraw from the case, alleging bias.

However, the judge ruled that the reasons presented in their affidavits were not relevant to the matter before the court.

According to the court, after reviewing all documents and arguments submitted by the parties, there was no evidence showing that the judge had acted unfairly or prejudged the case.

Justice Lifu also noted that the requests for his withdrawal were filed before the court had even taken jurisdiction over the matter, making the allegations difficult to justify.

The judge described accusations of bias as serious claims that must be supported by clear facts.

He said the applicants failed to provide any proof and instead appeared to be attempting to pressure the court.

Justice Lifu warned that courts must not allow litigants to influence which judge hears their case.

He said judges should be careful not to yield to unproven allegations, as doing so could encourage parties to seek judges they believe would favour them.

The court further held that the applications amounted to an abuse of the judicial process and resembled an attempt at forum shopping.

According to the judge, parties do not have the right to select the court or judge that will determine their cases, as such assignments are made by the administrative authorities of the court.

He added that the entire request was based on speculation and that granting it without evidence could create a dangerous precedent for future cases.

As a result, Justice Lifu dismissed both applications and ordered ADC and Aregbesola to pay ₦500,000 each to the plaintiff, bringing the total cost awarded to ₦1 million.

Before the ruling was delivered, lawyer Kalu-Kalu Agu, who sought to represent ADC National Welfare Secretary Nkemakolam Ukandu, argued that the court should not proceed because Justice Lifu had earlier delivered a judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister ADC.

Agu maintained that since the party had been ordered deregistered, it should no longer be regarded as existing in law.

However, the judge questioned his standing in the matter and asked whether he had formally become a party to the suit.

Gombe’s lawyer, Robert Emukpoeruo (SAN), opposed Agu’s position, arguing that Ukandu had not yet been joined in the case and therefore could not be treated as a party.

He also stated that the earlier judgment cited by Agu had no bearing on the current proceedings.

Other lawyers, including counsel for Aregbesola, David Mark and former ADC National Chairman Ralph Nwosu, also addressed the court.

In his decision, Justice Lifu clarified that the case before him was different from the one in which judgment was delivered against ADC on Monday.

Following the ruling, the matter was adjourned until June 23 for the hearing of all pending applications.