The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC), seeking an investigation into the conduct of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, John Tsoho, and Peter Lifu over the handling of a high-profile case involving the party and its former National Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe.
The petition, dated June 1, 2026, was addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and Chairman of the NJC, with the petitioner, Nkemakolam Ukandu, accusing the two judicial officers of alleged abuse of judicial powers, disobedience of court orders and conduct capable of undermining public confidence in the judiciary.
At the centre of the dispute is Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 between Gombe and the ADC, which has generated intense legal and political interest following a recent Supreme Court decision linked to the leadership tussle within the party.
According to the petition, the Supreme Court, in a separate appeal involving David Mark and Gombe, ordered that the matter be remitted to Justice Emeka Nwite, who had initially presided over the case at the Federal High Court.
Ukandu, however, alleged that rather than allowing Justice Nwite to continue with the proceedings, Justice Tsoho reassigned the matter to Justice Lifu, a move he described as being contrary to the directive of the apex court.
The petitioner further claimed that during proceedings on May 8, Justice Nwite had directed the plaintiff to produce a Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgment and subsequently adjourned the matter indefinitely pending compliance with that directive.
He argued that the decision to reassign the case and schedule it for hearing before Justice Lifu on June 3 amounted to a violation of both the Supreme Court’s decision and the subsisting order made by Justice Nwite.
The petition also accused the Chief Judge of improperly exercising his administrative authority by transferring the case despite what the petitioner described as a clear and binding directive from the Supreme Court under Section 287(1) of the Constitution.
Beyond the question of procedure, Ukandu alleged that the reassignment created an appearance of bias and opened the door to forum shopping, a practice often criticised within legal circles for undermining confidence in judicial impartiality.
He further claimed that objections had previously been raised before the court by his legal team against the transfer of the matter to either Justice Lifu or Justice Joyce Abdulmalik.
The petitioner urged the NJC to investigate the actions of the two judges, determine whether any judicial misconduct occurred, and impose appropriate sanctions if violations are established.
He also called on the council to direct immediate compliance with what he described as the Supreme Court’s remittance order and the earlier directives issued by Justice Nwite.
The petition adds a new dimension to the ongoing legal battles surrounding the leadership crisis within the ADC and places the spotlight on the judiciary’s handling of politically sensitive disputes ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle.