Senior Advocate of Nigeria Oba Maduabuchi has publicly called for Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court to resign from his position. The demand follows a rebuke from the Court of Appeal regarding Justice Lifu’s handling of a case involving the Independent National Electoral Commission and several political parties.
On Tuesday, the Court of Appeal overturned a previous ruling that had ordered the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress and four other parties. The appellate panel criticized Justice Lifu for ignoring a stay-of-proceedings order issued on May 22. Despite being notified of this directive, the judge proceeded to issue a judgment, which the appellate court characterized as judicial impertinence and rascality.
Maduabuchi argued that such behavior renders a judge unfit for the bench. He expressed concern that the judiciary has increasingly become entangled in partisan politics, warning that this trend threatens the health of Nigeria’s democracy. Speaking on Arise News, the senior lawyer stated that a judge described as unfit by a higher court should no longer hold office or preside over legal matters.
