PDP writes FHC Chief Judge against repeated assignment of its cases to Justice Omotosho, two others

Opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has written to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, protesting what it describes as the “unusual, repeated and suspicious” assignment of almost all cases involving the party to a select number of judges.

In the petition, signed by the PDP National Secretary, Amb. Taofeek Arapaja, dated November 19, 2025 and addressed to the FCT Chief Judge, Hon. Justice John Tosho, the party questioned why matters concerning its internal disputes and political processes are consistently being routed to Justice James Kolawole Omotosho, Justice Peter Odo Lifu, and Justice Mohammed Abdulmalik despite the availability of numerous other judges within the Abuja federal judicial division.

PDP in the petition stated that the pattern had become too frequent to be coincidental.

The petition reads: “I have the instruction and authority of the National Chairman of our party, the Peoples Democratic Party and the entire members of the newly-elected National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee of our party to write this letter to Your Lordship concerning our fear and apprehension regarding all matters either filed by our party or against our party at the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division.

“My Lord, it is of great concern to our party that it would appear that all matters for the past few years filed in the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, either for or against our party, have always been assigned to the following three judges only, namely:
Hon Justice James Omotosho, Hon Justice Peter Lifu and Hon Justice Mohammed Abdulmalik, even though there are other judges numbering up to nine in the Abuja Judicial Division, who could have taken up any of these matters, as the Abuja Division has 12 judges.

“Several party members have recently complained bitterly to the newly elected members of the National Working Committee and the National Executive Committee of the above-mentioned scenario.

“Indeed, all these three courts are viewed by party members and indeed the public as ‘courts of particular concern’ with regard to matters pertaining to or affecting the interest of the Peoples Democratic Party.

“My Lord, it is trite that justice must not only be done in all cases and circumstances with regard to matters pending and matters filed in the court of law, but justice must be seen to be done indeed by reasonable members of society, including the members of our party.

“Given the current challenges facing the party, there is a high likelihood of cases being filed for or against the party. It is in this respect that we humbly plead and beg that in no other matters or circumstances with regard to cases that may be filed by or against our party henceforth should be assigned to any of these three judges, since justice is rooted in trust and integrity.

“Our party wishes to reiterate the fact that we have no iota of doubt with regard to the integrity of the judiciary, particularly the Federal High Court, Abuja Judicial Division, headed by Your Lordship in dispensing justice in all cases, other than the above-highlighted fears and apprehension of our party.”

The issue comes at a time of intensified legal battles within the PDP factions led by Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo state and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.