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LAGOS – In view of the Appeal Court judgment on Tuesday, nullifying the judgment of the Federal High Court ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other parties, the ADC, on Wednesday, again called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to discipline Justice Peter Lifu for pronouncing the controversial June 15 judgement.
Recall that in a unanimous judgment on Tuesday, delivered by a three-member panel of Justices led by Justice Abba Mohammed, the Appeal Court held that the June 15 judgment of the Federal High Court was a nullity, having been delivered without jurisdiction.
While calling on the NJC to act, Dr. Alex Adum, ADC lawyer, who spoke on Arise TV, on Wednesday, noted that Justice Lifu is notorious for giving orders and judgments against the stated principles of the law, and so it is time for the NJC to activate that jurisdiction and ensure he’s sanctioned.
According to him, the ADC, under the leadership of Senator David Mark, has already filed a petition before the NJC against the judge in question.
He added, “So, we expect that this is a time for the NJC to activate its jurisdiction. Because the requirement of the NJC that there must be a petition with a sworn affidavit stating the facts of the malfeasance which a judge is accused of. This particular judicial officer is so notorious for giving orders and judgments against the stated principles of the law. So this is a time for the NJC to activate that jurisdiction. Mind you, the NJC, which was only created under the 1999 constitution as a body to ensure the independence of the judiciary in terms of recruitment, promotion, assessment, discipline, and so on and so forth, is the only body that has the powers to activate disciplinary procedures against a sitting judicial officer.
“We expect that this is the time for the NJC to act. In any case, the NJC has acted in several previous cases which were not as damaging and dangerous as this one. So we expect that the NJC will act.”
