Court dismisses suit seeking to uphold Kingibe’s suspension, fines plaintiffs and counsel N20m

The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a suit filed to validate the indefinite suspension of Senator Ireti Kingibe by the Wuse Ward chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Peter Lifu held that disciplinary matters within political parties are internal affairs that do not require judicial intervention.

The judge questioned why party officials who initiated the suspension sought a court order to affirm their own decision, stating that any legal challenge should ordinarily come from the suspended member if dissatisfied with the process.

According to the court, the plaintiffs’ attempt to obtain judicial endorsement for the suspension reflected a lack of confidence in their own action.

Justice Lifu described the suit as “frivolous, baseless and unfounded.”

Relying on Sections 82 and 83 of the Electoral Act, the court awarded N10 million costs against the plaintiffs in favour of Kingibe. An additional N10 million fine was imposed on the plaintiffs’ counsel for filing what the court considered a frivolous suit, with the amount also payable to the senator.

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

Ward executives claimed the suspension was ratified by a two-thirds majority of the leadership.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CV/539/2026, was filed by Okezuo Kanayo and Isaiah Samuel on behalf of themselves and other ward members, with Kingibe named as the sole defendant.

Through their counsel, Kolawole Olowookere (SAN), the plaintiffs sought an interim injunction restraining the senator from presenting herself as a member of the ADC pending the determination of the substantive motion.

They also asked the court to bar her from attending party meetings, carrying out functions reserved for party members, or interfering in ward administration, including access to official records.

The plaintiffs alleged that Kingibe continued to hold parallel meetings and issue statements as an ADC member despite being notified of her suspension. They further claimed she used security personnel to intimidate ward executives.

Counsel to the senator, Marshall Abubakar, argued that the matter was purely an internal party dispute and therefore not justiciable.

He told the court that the party’s disciplinary procedures were not followed and maintained that Kingibe was neither invited nor formally confronted with any complaint before the suspension.

Abubakar also argued that the plaintiffs lacked the legal standing to institute the action because they had themselves been suspended by the party.

He urged the court to dismiss the case and award punitive costs against the plaintiffs.

In response, counsel to the plaintiffs, I.G. Ogugua, argued that internal party affairs cease to be protected from judicial scrutiny where constitutional procedures are breached.

The court, however, dismissed the suit in its entirety.