Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has imposed a fine of N500,000 on the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its national secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, for filing an application seeking the judge's withdrawal from a case.
Background of the Case
The ADC and Aregbesola had filed a motion requesting Justice Lifu to recuse himself from a suit initiated by Nafiu-Bala Gombe, a factional leader of the party. They alleged bias on the part of the judge. However, the court found the motion to be without merit and aimed at obstructing the accelerated hearing ordered by the Supreme Court.
Court's Ruling
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, June 16, Justice Lifu described the motion as lacking credible evidence and constituting an attempt to frustrate the Supreme Court's directive. He stated that the reasons presented in the affidavits were extraneous and that the court had thoroughly examined all processes without finding any trace of bias.
The judge emphasized that the application was frivolous and intended to delay proceedings, leading to the imposition of the fine as a deterrent.
