A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Oba Maduabuchi, has called on Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court to resign following the Court of Appeal’s scathing criticism of his handling of a case involving the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties.
Speaking during an interview on Arise News, Maduabuchi said Justice Lifu should no longer continue sitting on the bench after the appellate court described his actions as “judicial impertinence” and cited a Supreme Court position that such conduct amounts to “judicial rascality.”
The Court of Appeal, in a judgment delivered on Tuesday, set aside Justice Lifu’s earlier ruling directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the ADC and four other political parties over alleged failure to meet constitutional requirements.
The appellate court faulted the trial judge for proceeding with the case despite an order issued on May 22 directing him to stay proceedings pending the determination of an appeal. According to the court, Justice Lifu was aware of the order but deliberately ignored it and went ahead to deliver judgment.
Reacting to the development, Maduabuchi expressed concern over what he described as increasing partisanship within the judiciary, warning that such actions threaten Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
“The judiciary has left its job and is now involving itself in partisan politics. That is bad for Nigeria’s democracy,” he said.
He argued that judges must be held to the highest standards of integrity, insisting that anyone publicly declared by a higher court to be unfit for the bench should step down.
Referring to the Court of Appeal’s remarks, the senior lawyer said the criticism was severe enough to warrant Justice Lifu’s resignation.
“You’ve been told that you are not a fit and proper person to hear cases by a court higher than you. Therefore, the best thing for you is to leave,” Maduabuchi stated.
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