Kingibe: Court slams leaders of ADC wards with N20 million penalty – THIS UPDATE

By Victor Osula, Abuja

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday, hit constituency leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and their lawyers with a combined fine of $20 million after dismissing a suit seeking judicial validation of the suspension of Senator Ireti Kingibe, describing the case as frivolous, baseless and baseless.

In handing down the ruling, Judge Peter Lifu found that matters relating to discipline, suspension and membership of a political party remained internal party affairs and did not require judicial intervention.

The judge asked why officials from the same political party that imposed the suspension approached the court to seek validation of their disciplinary action, stressing that the suspended senator should have challenged the action if she felt aggrieved.

According to the judge, the applicants’ decision to seek judicial approval of the suspension suggests a lack of confidence in their action.

Invoking sections 82 and 83 of the Electoral Act, the court awarded $10 million in costs against the plaintiffs in favor of Kingibe. Judge Lifu also imposed an additional $10 million fine on the plaintiffs’ lawyer for filing what he described as a frivolous lawsuit, with the sum equally payable to the senator.

Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory in the Senate, was reportedly suspended on March 10 by ADC leaders in Wuse Ward for alleged anti-party activities and disregard for the party’s constitution.

Constituency leaders said the suspension was ratified by two-thirds of constituency leaders, in line with the party’s internal procedures.

The plaintiffs, Okezuo Kanayo and Isaiah Samuel, had filed the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CV/539/2026 on behalf of themselves and other members of the department, with Kingibe listed as the sole defendant.

Through their lawyer, Mr Kolawole Olowookere, SAN, the plaintiffs sought an interim injunction restraining the Senator from appearing as a member of the ADC pending the determination of their substantive motion.

They also prayed the court to restrain her from attending party meetings, holding functions reserved for ADC members or representing the party in any official capacity.

The applicants also asked the court to restrain Kingibe from interfering in the administration of the department, including access to the department register and other official activities.

According to the plaintiffs, the senator was suspended for alleged anti-party activities, gross misconduct and confiscation of legal documents. They argued that due process was followed in imposing the suspension and that it was ratified by a two-thirds majority of district leaders, as required by the ADC constitution.

They further alleged that despite being informed of her suspension, Kingibe continued to hold parallel meetings, make statements in her capacity as a member of the ADC and allegedly use security personnel to intimidate department managers.

However, the senator’s lawyer, Marshall Abubakar, had urged the court on the previously adjourned date to dismiss the matter on the grounds that it closely borders on the internal affairs of the political party.

Abubakar alleged that the plaintiffs did not follow the party’s established procedures before resorting to litigation, adding that the senator was never invited to respond to any allegations leveled against her.

“The accused was never invited for anything nor was any complaint filed against her,” the lawyer told the court.

It further argued that the plaintiffs did not have standing to initiate the suit as they were themselves suspended from the party.

The plaintiffs’ lawyer, Mr. IG Ogugua, however argued that the court could intervene where the constitution of a political party was allegedly breached, insisting that there was nothing sacrosanct in the party’s internal affairs doctrine in such circumstances.

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