The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered Nkemakolam Ukandu, the National Welfare Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), to pay a total of N100 million in damages to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, and Justice Peter Lifu, over a suit that the court dismissed due to a lack of diligent prosecution.
Justice Salim Ibrahim issued the verdict on Monday, ordering Ukandu to pay N50 million each to Justice Tsoho and Justice Lifu within 14 days.
The order followed counsel’s oral application to the two judges, Mr J. U. K. Igwe, SAN.
Previously, Justice Ibrahim dismissed Ukandu’s claim, FHC/ABJ/CS/1165/2026, after determining that the plaintiff had failed to diligently prosecute the case.
Ukandu sued the National Judicial Council (NJC), Justice Tsoho, and Justice Lifu, alleging judicial bias and disobedience to court directives. He sought an order forcing the NJC to examine allegations of corruption, abuse of judicial authority, and bias by the two judges.
However, after the matter was assigned to Justice Ibrahim, the plaintiff and his lawyer failed to appear before him on multiple occasions.
On June 30, the judge cautioned that if Ukandu or his lawyer did not present in upcoming proceedings, the complaint would be dismissed.
The issue emerged from an ongoing leadership conflict inside the ADC involving an aggrieved party member, Nafiu-Bala Gombe, whose substantive suit is currently pending before Justice Lifu.