Federal High Court transfers Justice Lifu to Abuja

The Federal High Court has transferred Justice Peter Lifu from Lagos to the Abuja division of the court.

Justice Lifu will occupy the space 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 Thursday, January 11, 2023, the Federal High Court stated that Justice Lifu’s resumption in Abuja was for immediate effect.

Justice Lifu is the judge, who, March 21, 2023 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 noted 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 judgment was affirmed on appeal.

Before the transfer, Justice Lifu was hearing, among others, the case of five alleged drug barons said to have been arrested in Ikorodu with over two tonnes of cocaine, by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).