ADC WELFARE SECRETARY FINED N100M AFTER SUIT IS STRUCK OUT
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By: Fasasi Hammad
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the National Welfare Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nkemakolam Ukandu, to pay N100 million in damages to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, and Justice Peter Lifu following the dismissal of his suit for lack of diligent prosecution.
In a ruling delivered on Monday, Justice Salim Ibrahim directed Ukandu to pay N50 million each to Justice Tsoho and Justice Lifu within 14 days.
The order was granted following an oral application made by counsel to the two judges, Mr. J.U.K. Igwe (SAN).
Before making the award, Justice Ibrahim struck out the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1165/2026, after holding that the plaintiff had failed to pursue the matter diligently.
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Ukandu had instituted the action against the National Judicial Council (NJC), Justice Tsoho and Justice Lifu, accusing the judges of judicial bias and non-compliance with court orders. He had sought an order directing the NJC to investigate allegations of corruption, abuse of judicial authority and bias against the two judicial officers.
However, both the plaintiff and his counsel repeatedly failed to appear in court after the case was assigned to Justice Ibrahim.
The judge had earlier cautioned on June 30 that the matter could be dismissed if the plaintiff and his legal representative failed to attend subsequent proceedings.
The suit stemmed from the ongoing leadership crisis within the ADC involving a party member, Nafiu-Bala Gombe, whose substantive case remains before Justice Lifu.
Gombe is seeking a court order restraining the faction led by former Senate President David Mark from presenting itself as the legitimate leadership of the party.
Ukandu, who is seeking to be joined in that case, had alleged that Justice Tsoho and Justice Lifu displayed bias and were acting in favour of certain interests within the party.
He also challenged the decision of the Chief Judge to transfer the leadership dispute from Justice Emeka Nwite to Justice Lifu, arguing that the reassignment was contrary to an earlier order issued by Justice Nwite as well as a decision of the Supreme Court.
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