Judge recuses self from Lagos Country Club leadership suit

Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Lagos has decided to recuse himself from a legal dispute concerning the leadership and administration of the prestigious Lagos Country Club in Ikeja. This recusal came about following a request from the plaintiff, Babatunde Fashanu, SAN. The recusal was announced on October 29, 2026, in reference to Suit No. FHC/LAG/CS/876/2026, which involves Fashanu and the Incorporated Trustees of the Lagos Country Club and other parties.

Justice Lewis-Allagoa made this decision based on the rationale that when a litigant expresses a fundamental lack of confidence in a judge's impartiality, it is in the best interest of justice for the judge to recuse themselves. In accordance with this decision, he directed that the case file be transferred to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment to a different judge.

This action was taken after a notice motion was filed on June 1, 2026, by Fashanu seeking his recusal and the transfer of the suit. The plaintiff's arguments were based on what he claimed were inconsistencies in decisions made by the judge in previous proceedings involving the club.

The plaintiff, Fashanu, also referenced a prior case, Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1792/2014, where the judge had ordered the parties to maintain the status quo pending the resolution of the dispute. Furthermore, Fashanu pointed to a Consent Judgement in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1886/2024, issued by Dr. Edwards Ademosu, which he argued seemed to validate the actions of the club's leadership, including the conduct of executive elections and the management of the club's financial accounts.

He contended that these actions were inconsistent with the existing status quo order and raised concerns about the impartiality of the proceedings.

Although the application for recusal was scheduled to be heard on October 29, 2026, Justice Lewis-Allagoa elected to recuse himself from the case without allowing oral arguments from either side. The primary relief sought by the plaintiff includes an order to set aside a Consent Judgement in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1886/2024, along with orders to nullify administrative actions, executive decisions, committee appointments, and electoral processes that were allegedly carried out under the authority of the challenged judgement.