I never commented on Justice Lifu’s illness, Melaye replies Galadima

Former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, has taken a swipe at elder statesman Buba Galadima over comments linking him to discussions surrounding the health of Federal High Court judge, Justice Peter Lifu.

Melaye, in a post on his X account on Saturday, said he was shocked that Galadima mentioned him while discussing the judge’s illness, insisting that he never made any comment about Lifu’s health.

He also suggested that old age was affecting Galadima’s 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 referring to information that the ADC had obtained a certified true copy of the judgment delivered against the party.

He said, “You know there was a judgment against ADC, isn’t it? Yes. And I’ve just heard you read something that Dino Melaye said.

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“They’ve got a true certified copy of the judgment, and I know some ADC people are jumping up and down that the judge (Peter Lifu) who gave a ruling against them has fallen ill and is supposed to be taken to hospital in Europe.”

Galadima questioned why ADC members would celebrate the reported illness of the judge, arguing that his possible absence from the country could delay the party’s appeal against the judgment.

He claimed that the records of proceedings required for an 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.

The controversy followed a judgment by Lifu in a suit concerning the leadership dispute in the ADC, which set aside resolutions of the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting of 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.