In the Justice Peter Lifu case, it is argued that the learnt Judge of the High Court simply overruled an earlier decision of the Court of Appeal, delivered on 22 May to the effect that the suit – Incorporated Trustees of NFFL vs. INEC & Ors (FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2027) which was filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators at the Federal High Court, Abuja requesting the deregistration of five political parties, for failing to meet necessary performance thresholds to be registered, should be put on hold. Justice Lifu’s court ignored the Court of Appeal and went ahead to deliver judgment, directing INEC to deregister the political parties. It was a very angry Court of Appeal taking up the matter subsequently that accused Justice Lifu of brazenly violating “the hierarchy of courts”, thus committing “the gravest form of judicial misconduct”, in fact “judicial rascality.” The Appeal Court has now adjourned until 7 July, for the hearing of the appeal and to enable parties in the suit to file and exchange their briefs of argument.
Political parties, the courts and the path to 2027, By Reuben Abati
