Former Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye has denied commenting on the health of Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, accusing elder statesman Buba Galadima of falsely attributing such remarks to him.
Melaye’s denial followed comments by Galadima, a chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, who mentioned the former senator while discussing the reported illness of the judge and the leadership dispute in the African Democratic Congress.
In a post on his X account on Saturday, Melaye said he was surprised that Galadima linked him to comments about Lifu’s health, insisting that he had made no such statement.
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“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,” he wrote.
He also took a swipe at Galadima, suggesting that age was affecting his memory.
“Old age must be catching up with Buba Galadima. Now I know you can’t cure old age, you can only manage it,” Melaye added.
Galadima had, during an interview on African Independent Television on Wednesday, criticised ADC members over their reported reaction to Lifu’s illness.
The elder statesman questioned why members of the party would celebrate the reported illness of a judge whose ruling had gone against them, arguing that his absence from the country could delay their planned appeal.
He referred to information that the ADC had obtained a certified true copy of the judgment and said he had heard comments attributed to Melaye.
Galadima also argued that if Lifu travelled abroad for medical treatment, the records of proceedings required for an appeal could not be signed by another judge.
“They didn’t know that if that is true, it is deliberate to deny them appeal,” he said, adding that the party members had failed to consider the possible implications of the judge’s absence.
The controversy stems from a judgment delivered by Lifu in a suit over the ADC’s leadership dispute. The court set aside resolutions of the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 29, 2025, through which Senator David Mark and former Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola emerged as national officers.
The court also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising or dealing with the affected individuals as national officers of the party.
The ADC has indicated its intention to appeal the judgment.
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