Federal High Court Abuja strikes out suit over Senator Ireti Kingibe’s suspension and awards N20m costs against plaintiffs
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday struck out a suit seeking to validate the indefinite suspension of Senator Ireti Kingibe by the Wuse Ward chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
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The ruling was delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, who held that disputes arising from internal party discipline remain the domestic affairs of political parties.
Justice Lifu stated that courts should not interfere in such matters unless proper legal grounds are established.
He questioned why party officials who imposed the suspension were the same individuals seeking judicial endorsement of their action.
According to him, the plaintiffs ought to have been the ones challenging the suspension if they felt aggrieved.
The judge described the suit as frivolous, baseless and lacking merit, noting that it reflected a misunderstanding of party processes and judicial limits.
Justice Lifu also awarded costs against the plaintiffs, ordering payment of N10 million in favour of the senator.
He further imposed an additional N10 million cost against the plaintiffs’ counsel for filing what he described as an unnecessary action.
The plaintiffs, Mr Okezuo Kanayo and Mr Isaiah Samuel, had filed the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CV/539/2026 on behalf of themselves and other ward members of the ADC.
They listed Senator Kingibe as the sole defendant and sought an interim injunction restraining her from parading herself as a member of the party.
They also asked the court to stop her from attending party meetings and performing duties associated with the ADC.
The plaintiffs argued that the suspension was carried out in line with the ADC constitution and ratified by a two-thirds majority of ward executives.
They alleged that Senator Kingibe had engaged in anti-party activities and continued to interfere in ward affairs despite the suspension.
Counsel to the senator, Mr Marshall Abubakar, argued that the matter was purely an internal party issue and should be dismissed.
He told the court that the plaintiffs lacked legal standing, adding that the proper internal mechanisms were not followed.
Abubakar also urged the court to impose punitive costs, describing the case as lacking merit.
Delivering his judgment, Justice Lifu agreed with the defence, holding that the plaintiffs had failed to justify judicial intervention.
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The decision effectively ends the attempt to secure court backing for the suspension, while reaffirming judicial restraint in party disputes.
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