By Ogungbayi Adeyemi S. | adeyemi@ddnewsonline.com
Editor, DDNews |
The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has ordered a stay of execution of the Federal High Court judgment directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister five political parties, while sharply condemning the trial judge, Justice Peter Lifu, for what it described as “judicial rascality.”
In a unanimous decision delivered on Wednesday by a three-member panel led by Justice A.B. Mohammed, the appellate court held that Justice Lifu acted in flagrant disregard of a subsisting Court of Appeal order when he proceeded to hear and deliver judgment on the matter.
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The appellate court berated Justice Lifu for flouting its order made on May 22, 2026, which directed him to suspend further proceedings in the case pending the determination of an appeal.
“It is the highest form of judicial impertinence,” the court declared, stressing that a judge who acts in such a manner “is unfit for the bench as it amounts to judicial rascality.”
The court emphasised that courts are enjoined to protect their integrity and that the appellate court has supervisory authority over the trial court.
“The decision of the lower court to proceed with the judgment despite the express order of this court is a brazen violation of the hierarchy of courts and the 1999 Constitution,” the panel ruled.
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It therefore granted the application for stay of execution, halting any enforcement of the Federal High Court judgment.
The affected parties include the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP). The lower court had ordered INEC to stop recognising them and barred them from participating in future elections, including the 2027 general polls.
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Justice Lifu’s judgment was delivered despite a clear stay of proceedings granted by the Court of Appeal in Appeal No: CA/ABJ/CV/569/2026.
The appellate court has now adjourned the substantive appeal to October 27, 2026, for hearing.
The development is expected to have significant implications for the political landscape as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.
DDNewsOnline – Lagos
By Ogungbayi Adeyemi S. (Beedee)
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