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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Mark slams FG after A’Court reverses ADC deregistration

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified In the courts
  • The Court of Appeal reversed a lower court's decision to deregister five political parties, including the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
  • The appellate court rebuked Justice Peter Lifu for disregarding a previous order and proceeding with the deregistration ruling.
  • Senator David Mark warned the Federal Government against political manipulation, stating the judiciary is on trial.

Nigeria's judiciary is under scrutiny following a Court of Appeal decision that overturned the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties. The appellate court not only reversed the Federal High Court's order but also issued a strong rebuke to Justice Peter Lifu for his conduct.

The decision of the lower court to proceed with the judgment despite the express order of this court is a brazen violation of the hierarchy of the court and the 1999 Constitution.

— Court of Appeal PanelDescribing Justice Lifu's actions in flouting a previous court order.

The Court of Appeal in Abuja ordered a stay of execution on the judgment that directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the ADC, Action Peoples Party, Action Alliance, Accord Party, and Zenith Labour Party. A three-member panel, led by Justice A. B. Mohammed, condemned Justice Lifu for flouting a May 22 order that instructed him to suspend proceedings. The panel characterized his actions as a "brazen violation of the hierarchy of the court and the 1999 Constitution" and "the highest form of judicial impertinence."

Citing a Supreme Court precedent, the appellate court stated that a judge acting in such a manner is "unfit for the bench as it amounts to judicial rascality." The court emphasized its duty to assert supervisory authority over lower courts and protect the integrity of the judicial hierarchy, ultimately granting the application for a stay of execution and halting the enforcement of the judgment.

The decision of the lower court to proceed with the judgment despite the express order of this court is the highest form of judicial impertinence.

— Court of Appeal PanelCharacterizing Justice Lifu's conduct in the context of judicial hierarchy.

Earlier, the Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Lifu, had ordered INEC to deregister the five parties, citing their failure to meet constitutional performance thresholds from the 2023 general elections. Following the Court of Appeal's decision, ADC National Chairman Senator David Mark warned the Federal Government against political manipulation, asserting that the judiciary is currently on trial. Stakeholders have also called for sanctions against Justice Lifu for allegedly disregarding a superior court order.

is unfit for the bench as it amounts to judicial rascality.

— Court of Appeal PanelReferencing a Supreme Court precedent for judges who disregard court orders.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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