Former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, has denied commenting on the health of Federal High Court judge, Justice Peter Lifu, accusing elder statesman Buba Galadima of falsely linking him to discussions about the judge’s illness.
Melaye, in a post on his X account on Saturday, said he was surprised that Galadima mentioned his name while discussing the reported illness, insisting that he had never made any statement about Lifu’s health.
He also took a swipe at Galadima, suggesting that old age was affecting his memory.
“I was extremely shocked to hear that Alhaji Buba Galadima mentioned that I made comments on Justice Lifu’s health. It is most unfortunate because I never made any comment on Justice Lifu’s health.
“Old age must be catching up with Buba Galadima. Now I know you can’t cure old age, you can only manage it,” he wrote.
Galadima, a chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, had criticised members of the African Democratic Congress over their reported reaction to Lifu’s illness, accusing them of lacking intelligence.
Speaking during an interview on African Independent Television on Wednesday, Galadima mentioned Melaye while discussing reports that the ADC had obtained a certified true copy of the judgment delivered against the party.
He said some ADC members were celebrating the judge’s reported illness, despite the possibility that his absence from the country could delay their appeal.
Galadima argued that the records of proceedings required for the appeal could not be signed by another judge while Lifu was away.
“I just found out that maybe there aren’t intelligent people in the ADC. They didn’t know that if that is true, it is deliberate to deny them appeal, because if the judge goes to London or Europe or anywhere outside the country, the records of proceedings from his judgment cannot be signed by any judge.
“So no appeal could be had until he’s back. They didn’t know that they are playing on their intelligence, and that’s why Nigerian politicians are lazy. They don’t think,” he said.
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The controversy followed a judgment by Lifu in a suit concerning the leadership dispute in the ADC.
The judge set aside resolutions of the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 29, 2025, through which Senator David Mark and former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, emerged as national officers.
The court also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising or dealing with the affected persons as national officers of the party.
The ADC has indicated its intention to challenge the judgment.
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