Human rights advocate Maxwell Okpara has called on the Court of Appeal to issue an order preventing Justice Peter Lifu from continuing to function as a judge. Okpara made this demand on Wednesday during an appearance on Arise Television’s ‘Morning Show’.
His comments came in response to a ruling by Justice Lifu that directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to deregister the African Democratic Congress and other political parties. The Court of Appeal, however, issued a stay of execution on Tuesday.
Okpara questioned what law students interning under Justice Lifu would learn from such a judgment. He said: ‘I appreciate the Court of Appeal for stepping in to rescue the judiciary. But describing Justice Lifu’s judgment as rascality is not enough. The Appeal Court should have also issued an order stopping him from sitting until the National Judicial Council reviews the circumstances that led a lower court to disregard a higher court’s decision.’
He added: ‘Now, what are the law students attached to that court supposed to learn?’