The Federal High Court in Abuja has imposed a fine of N100 million on Nkemakolam Ukandu, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), for failing to diligently prosecute a lawsuit he filed against the National Judicial Council (NJC), Chief Judge John Tsoho, and Judge Peter Lifu. Justice Salim Ibrahim struck out the case on Monday, July 6, 2026, citing lack of diligent prosecution.
Details of the Fine and Court Ruling
Justice Ibrahim ordered Ukandu to pay N50 million to each of the two judges, Tsoho and Lifu, within 14 days. The fine was imposed following an oral application by the defence counsel, J. U. K. Igwe, who called for the striking out of the suit and the penalty. The judge described the fine as retribution for Ukandu's failure to pursue the case diligently.
According to court proceedings, neither Ukandu nor his lawyer appeared before the court from the time the case was assigned to Justice Ibrahim. When the suit came up on June 22, 2026, no lawyer appeared for Ukandu or the NJC, while Igwe announced his appearance for the two judges. Justice Ibrahim had warned at that hearing that the suit would be dismissed if the plaintiff or his lawyer failed to appear again.
Background of the Suit
Ukandu, the ADC national welfare secretary, had sued the NJC, Tsoho, and Lifu over alleged judicial misconduct, seeking an order compelling the NJC to investigate allegations of corruption and abuse of judicial powers. The suit was linked to the leadership crisis within the ADC and a separate case filed by Nafiu-Bala Gombe, an aggrieved party member, challenging the David Mark-led interim leadership of the party.
The ADC has been embroiled in internal leadership disputes. In a related development, Aslam Aliyu, a key ally of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in Zamfara state, resigned from the ADC and joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing the opposition's failure to present a credible governance blueprint. APC national chairman Nentawe Yilwatda welcomed Aliyu, stating she made the right switch to the ruling party.
Legal and Political Reactions
Lawyer Binzak Azeez criticised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over its handling of the ADC crisis, claiming that an external conspiracy fuels the crisis involving political interests. Azeez warned that INEC's actions threaten Nigeria's democracy and called for judicial accountability.
The N100 million fine against Ukandu underscores the court's stance on ensuring that litigants prosecute their cases diligently. Justice Ibrahim's ruling serves as a deterrent against frivolous or abandoned lawsuits that waste judicial resources.
