ADC Demands Immediate Release of Justice Lifu’s Judgment

By KEMI KASUMU

“The public is entitled to ask whether this was a judicial process or a calculated attempt to deliver a political blow while denying the party the document needed to challenge it,” the statement said.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has demanded the immediate release of the certified true copy of the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, alleging that its lawyers have yet to receive the document despite formally applying and paying the prescribed fees.

The party said Justice Lifu had announced in open court that copies of the judgment were ready, but the document remained inaccessible to the parties involved.

“If the judgment was ready, there is no excuse for keeping it from the parties. Release it now,” the party said in a statement signed by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication, ADC Presidential Campaign Council.

According to the ADC, counsel representing the first defendant formally applied for the certified true copy of the judgment on November 6, 2026, and paid the assessed fee, while counsel to the third defendant submitted an application a day earlier, on the day the judgment was delivered.

The party said both applications bore the Federal High Court’s official ‘PAID’ stamp, indicating that all financial requirements had been fulfilled.

“Both applications carry the Federal High Court’s ‘PAID’ stamp. Every requirement was met. Yet the applicants are still being denied the judgment,” it said.

Describing the situation as more than a routine administrative delay, the ADC argued that the continued withholding of the judgment amounted to a denial of access to a judicial decision directly affecting the rights and interests of the parties.

“Justice Lifu declared the judgment ready; the applicants paid for its certified copy; the court has acknowledged payment. Why, then, are they still being kept in the dark?

“A judge cannot announce that a judgment is ready and leave litigants to chase the document they need to understand and challenge it,” the statement added.

The party said the judgment concerned the leadership of a major political party and the rights of its members, arguing that withholding the certified copy prevented the affected parties from knowing the precise orders made by the court and taking appropriate legal steps in response.

“If the ruling is sound, there is no justification for keeping it out of reach. The Federal High Court must release the judgment immediately and explain why paid applications have gone unanswered,” it said.

The ADC also disclosed that it had formally objected to Justice Lifu presiding over the matter, claiming that its National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, had previously raised concerns about the judge’s impartiality.

According to the party, its reservations were based on previous appellate decisions which, in its view, raised questions about the judge’s competence and neutrality.

“Those concerns were placed on record. The unexplained withholding of the judgment now compounds them and demands answers,” the party stated.

The ADC further questioned the timing of the judgment, noting that Justice Lifu delivered it days after the party launched its campaign in Sokoto State.

“The public is entitled to ask whether this was a judicial process or a calculated attempt to deliver a political blow while denying the party the document needed to challenge it,” the statement said.

The party consequently demanded the immediate release of the certified judgment and a public explanation for the delay, warning that continued withholding of the document could further undermine public confidence in the judiciary.

It also vowed to pursue all available legal and institutional remedies to protect its interests and ensure that the circumstances surrounding the matter were brought to public attention.

“The ADC will not be intimidated or denied its right to challenge this ruling. Any attempt to obstruct that right will be met with every lawful action available, and those responsible will be held to account through the proper legal and institutional channels,” it added.