The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the National Welfare Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nkemakolam Ukandu, to pay ₦100 million in damages to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, and Justice Peter Lifu after striking out his suit for lack of diligent prosecution.
Delivering the ruling on Monday, Justice Salim Ibrahim directed Ukandu to pay ₦50 million each to Justice Tsoho and Justice Lifu within 14 days.
The order followed an oral application filed by counsel to the two judges, J. U. K. Igwe, SAN.
Justice Ibrahim also struck out Ukandu’s suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1165/2026, after finding that the plaintiff failed to diligently prosecute the case.
Ukandu had instituted the suit against the National Judicial Council (NJC), Justice Tsoho, and Justice Lifu, alleging judicial bias, abuse of judicial powers, corruption, and disobedience to court orders. He sought an order compelling the NJC to investigate the allegations against the two judges.
However, both Ukandu and his counsel repeatedly failed to appear in court after the matter was reassigned to Justice Ibrahim. At the previous sitting on June 30, the judge warned that the case would be struck out if the plaintiff or his legal representative failed to attend subsequent proceedings.
The suit stemmed from the ongoing leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress, involving an aggrieved party member, Nafiu-Bala Gombe, whose substantive case is currently before Justice Peter Lifu.
Gombe is seeking an order restraining the party’s leadership, led by former Senate President David Mark, from presenting themselves as the legitimate executives of the ADC pending the determination of the case.
Ukandu, who is seeking to be joined in the leadership dispute, accused Justice Tsoho and Justice Lifu of manifest bias and alleged that the judges were acting in the interest of certain individuals against the party.
He also challenged the decision of the Chief Judge to reassign the ADC leadership case from Justice Emeka Nwite to Justice Peter Lifu, arguing that the reassignment contravened an earlier order issued by Justice Nwite as well as a decision of the Supreme Court.
The court, however, dismissed the suit for want of diligent prosecution and awarded a total of ₦100 million in damages against Ukandu.
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