The Federal High Court in Abuja has imposed a ₦1 million fine on the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, after dismissing their application seeking the recusal of Justice Peter Lifu from a pending case.
Justice Lifu, in a ruling delivered on Tuesday, awarded ₦500,000 each against the party and Aregbesola, holding that the application lacked merit and amounted to an abuse of court process.
The ADC and Aregbesola had filed separate motions asking the judge to step aside from hearing a suit brought by an aggrieved party member, Nafiu-Bala Gombe, on allegations of bias.
However, the court rejected the request, ruling that no credible evidence was presented to support claims of bias. Justice Lifu held that the allegations were speculative and appeared aimed at frustrating the accelerated hearing order earlier issued by the Supreme Court.
He stressed that claims of bias are serious and must be backed by clear evidence, noting that none was provided by the applicants. The judge also described the motions as an attempt to intimidate the court and engage in forum shopping.
According to him, litigants cannot choose judges for their cases, adding that judicial assignments are handled administratively and not influenced by parties.
Justice Lifu warned that granting such applications without evidence could set a dangerous precedent and undermine the integrity of the judiciary.
He subsequently dismissed the applications and ordered ₦500,000 costs against each applicant in favour of the plaintiff.
The court also proceeded with other aspects of the matter, though it noted that the current case was separate from a related ruling delivered earlier.
The suit was adjourned to June 23 for hearing of pending applications.
The substantive case was filed by Nafiu-Bala Gombe, who is seeking an order restraining ADC leaders, including Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola, from parading themselves as party executives, alleging breaches of the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.