Senator Ireti Kingibe has won a major legal victory after a Federal High Court in Abuja threw out a case seeking to uphold her suspension from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and awarded her N20 million in damages.
Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Peter Lifu dismissed the suit filed against the senator and ruled that the matter was an internal party affair beyond the court’s jurisdiction. The judge also ordered the plaintiffs to pay punitive costs of N20 million to Kingibe.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CV/539/2026, was instituted by Okezuo Anayo and Isaiah Samuel on behalf of the ADC Ward Executive Committee in the Federal Capital Territory.
The plaintiffs had urged the court to validate Kingibe’s suspension by the Wuse Ward Executive Committee of the party and prevent her from identifying herself as a member of the ADC.
According to court filings, the senator was suspended on March 10 over alleged acts of insubordination and anti-party activities.
“The suspension was duly communicated to the defendant and relevant party organs,” Samuel stated in an affidavit presented before the court.
The plaintiffs further argued that despite the suspension, Kingibe continued to present herself publicly as a member of the ADC.
They asked the court to issue declarations affirming the suspension and restrain the senator from participating in party activities pending the outcome of disciplinary proceedings within the party.
However, Justice Lifu ruled against the application and declined all the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs.
The court also refused to stop Kingibe from taking part in ADC activities or parading herself as a member of the party.
