Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned indefinitely a suit filed by African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain Nafiu Bala Gombe. The adjournment followed a letter written by the plaintiff to the chief judge of the Federal High Court seeking the reassignment of the case to another judge. Counsel for the plaintiff disclosed that the Supreme Court had, on April 30, dismissed an interlocutory appeal for lack of merit. Defence counsel opposed the transfer request, accusing the plaintiff of "forum shopping and judge shopping." Justice Nwite ruled he could not act on the letter without hearing all parties.
Key Points:
- The indefinite adjournment leaves ADC leadership uncertainty unresolved for the foreseeable future.
- Plaintiffs seeking a judge transfer may face a public perception of avoiding an unfavourable bench.
- Defence accusations of "forum shopping" suggest legal gamesmanship rather than genuine pursuit of justice.
- The case's delay benefits whichever faction prefers the status quo within the ADC.
- The timing of this indefinite adjournment, as 2027 approaches, may prevent a timely resolution before political alignments solidify.
Watch for whether the chief judge grants the transfer request and for when the certified true copy of the Supreme Court judgment is filed.
Sources: Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ)
