The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday threatened to dismiss a suit filed against the Chief Judge of the court, Justice John Tsoho, and Justice Peter Lifu for lack of diligent prosecution.
Justice Salim Ibrahim, in a ruling, held that the case would be dismissed if there was no representation for the plaintiff, Mr. Nkemakolam Ukandu, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), on the next adjourned date.
Ukandu, the National Welfare Secretary of the ADC, had sued the National Judicial Council (NJC), the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, and Justice Lifu as the 1st to 3rd defendants, respectively, over alleged bias and disobedience to a court order.
Ukandu, in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1165/2026, sought an order compelling the NJC to investigate allegations of corruption, abuse of judicial powers, and bias levelled against Tsoho and Lifu.
When the case was called on Tuesday, only counsel for the 2nd and 3rd defendants (Tsoho and Lifu) were in court.
No lawyer appeared for the plaintiff (Ukandu), and there was no representation for the NJC either.
John Igwe (SAN), who appeared for Justices Tsoho and Lifu, informed the court that the case was adjourned for mention.
He recalled that on June 22, when the matter came up, neither the plaintiff nor his lawyer was in court.
The lawyer, who said it appeared the plaintiff was not ready to prosecute the case, urged the court to strike out the suit.
Justice Ibrahim, however, said it was necessary to give the plaintiff another opportunity
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