The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has formally petitioned the National Judicial Council (NJC) to investigate the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, and Justice Peter Lifu over their handling of a lawsuit involving the political party and its former National Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe.

In a petition addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, petitioner Nkemakolam Ukandu alleged abuse of judicial power, disobedience to court orders, and manifest bias regarding a specific suit between Gombe and the ADC.

According to the petition, the Supreme Court had previously ordered the matter to be remitted to Justice Emeka Nwite, the magistrate initially presiding over the case. The petitioner stated that Justice Nwite had subsequently directed the plaintiff to provide a Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgment and adjourned the proceedings indefinitely until that condition was met.

The petition alleges that Justice Tsoho bypassed the apex court's directive by reassigning the case to Justice Lifu, who then scheduled the matter for a hearing. Ukandu argued that this reassignment constitutes a direct violation of both the Supreme Court's judgment and Justice Nwite's earlier order.

Furthermore, the petitioner asserted that the Chief Judge abused his administrative authority, noting that Supreme Court decisions are strictly binding on all subordinate courts under Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution. The petition claims the transfer of the case creates an appearance of bias, encourages forum shopping, and disregards prior objections raised by legal counsel against transferring the matter to specific judges.

Accusing both judicial officers of breaching their judicial oaths and the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers, Ukandu requested that the NJC investigate the actions of Justices Tsoho and Lifu. The petition seeks appropriate disciplinary measures if the judges are found culpable, alongside a directive for immediate compliance with the Supreme Court’s remittance order and the prior rulings issued by Justice Nwite.