ADC Sues FHC CJ, Tsoho, over Alleged Disobedience of Court

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has initiated legal action against the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, citing allegations of corruption, disobedience of court orders, and manifest bias against the party. The lawsuit centers on a pending case at the Abuja division of the Federal High Court concerning the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the ADC.

Filed on June 4, the suit also names the National Judicial Council (NJC) and Justice Peter Lifu, a judge recently assigned to hear the case. The ADC's National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who personally filed the suit, accuses Justice Tsoho and Justice Lifu of bias and acting on behalf of individuals against the party's interests. Ukandu contends that reassigning the suit to Justice Lifu disregarded orders from the Supreme Court and an earlier Federal High Court judge, Justice Emeka Nwite.

The plaintiff highlighted a Supreme Court order from April 30, 2026, which mandated the remittance of the case back to Justice Nwite for the continuation of hearing on pending applications challenging the court's jurisdiction. Ukandu stated that despite this order and a subsequent adjournment by Justice Nwite, the Chief Judge reassigned the matter, which he described as an abuse of judicial powers. The ADC had previously announced on May 7 that the Chief Judge planned to reassign the case, a move they opposed.