Court dismisses suit against Ireti Kingibe, fines plaintiffs and lawyer N20m

The Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a suit seeking judicial backing for the indefinite suspension of Ireti Kingibe by the Wuse Ward chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

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

The judge questioned why party officials who carried out the suspension approached the court to validate their own decision, noting that it should have been the suspended senator challenging the action if she felt wronged.

According to the court, the plaintiffs’ move showed a lack of confidence in their own disciplinary process.

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

Invoking Sections 82 and 83 of the Electoral Act, the court awarded N10 million in costs against the plaintiffs in favour of Ms Kingibe.

The court also imposed an additional N10 million fine on the plaintiffs’ counsel for filing what it described as a frivolous suit, with the amount equally payable to the senator.

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