By Jude-Ken Ojinnaka
The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Hon. Justice John Terhemba Tsoho has approved the transfer Justice Peter O. Lifu (JP) from Lagos judicial division to Abuja division of the court.
Justice Lifu will occupy the seat left vacant following the elevation of Justice A.R. Mohammed to the Court of Appeal.
Justice Mohammed will fill the Sharia slot on the appellate court bench.
In a notice dated January 11, 2023, the Federal High Court stated that Justice Lifu’s resumption in Abuja will be effective immediately.
Justice Lifu is the judge, who, last March 21, struck out the Federal Government’s suit seeking recovery and forfeiture of the over N70 trillion it claimed was hidden in 29 bank accounts by top government officials. The judge held that the case, filed in 2021, was not diligently prosecuted.
On May 24, 2022, the judge granted an order restraining transport unions from collecting union dues and levies from commercial drivers who are non-union members in all motor parks in Lagos State.
He is also the judge who on February 8, 2023, dismissed a suit by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) seeking to disqualify Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Assembly candidates from contesting the general elections. The judgement was affirmed on appeal.
On October 24, 2023, Justice Peter Lifu (JP) also granted the orders seeking leave to apply for judicial review of the published reports of the Auditor General of the Federation alleging unaccounted and missing of $2.1 billion USD and N3.1 trillion oil revenues budgeted as fuel subsidy payments. The Court further granted an order of mandamus compelling Tinubu to probe the allegation
Justice Lifu is currently hearing, among others, the case of five alleged drug barons said to have been arrested in Ikorodu with over two tonnes of cocaine.
The defendants were charged to court by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).