Former Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, has denied making any statement about the health condition of Federal High Court judge, Justice Peter Lifu, accusing elder statesman Buba Galadima of wrongly associating him with comments on the matter.
Melaye, who reacted in a post on his X account on Saturday, said he was surprised that Galadima mentioned his name while discussing reports about the judge’s illness, insisting that he had never commented on Lifu’s health.
The former lawmaker also took a swipe at the Nigeria Democratic Congress chieftain, suggesting that advancing age might be 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,” Melaye wrote.
The exchange followed comments by Galadima, who had criticised members of the African Democratic Congress over their reported reactions to the illness of Justice Lifu, accusing them of failing to understand the legal implications of the development.
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.
Galadima expressed concern over what he described as the party members’ reaction to the judge’s reported illness, arguing that his absence from the country could complicate the party’s efforts to appeal the ruling.
He said the records of proceedings relating to the judgment would require Lifu’s signature and could not simply be signed by another judge if he travelled abroad for medical treatment.
“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,” Galadima said.
The controversy comes against the backdrop of a Federal High Court judgment by Justice Lifu in a suit concerning the leadership crisis within the ADC.
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 Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, emerged as national officers.
It also restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising or dealing with the affected individuals as national officers of the party.
The judgment has deepened the political uncertainty surrounding the ADC leadership dispute, with the party indicating its intention to challenge the decision on appeal.
Melaye’s response has further drawn attention to the disagreement between him and Galadima over the reported illness of the judge and the political reactions surrounding the ADC’s legal battle.
