Court adjourns Nafiu-Bala Gombe’s suit against Mark, Aregbesola

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday adjourned a suit filed by  Nafiu-Bala Gombe , seeking to stop the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) from parading themselves as leaders of the party until June 30.

The matter, which was fixed hearing of all pending applications, earlier, could not proceed.

Earlier when the matter was called, all the lawyers to the parties were present except Suleiman Usman, SAN, counsel for Sen. Mark, the embattled National Chairman of ADC.

With the agreement of counsel, Justice Peter Lifu stood down the matter for 15 minutes to give Usman the opportunity to also be heard, and another case was called pending the senior lawyer’s arrival.

However, after the case ended, Justice Lifu stood down proceedings and rose.

Lawyers were then asked to take another date after waiting for some minutes.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Justice Lifu had, on June 16, fixed today for hearing of all the pending applications after he dismissed the application seeking his recusal from the case.

The judge, who held that the two motions filed by ADC and Rauf Aregbesola (1st and 3rd defendants) lacked merit, awarded a fine of N1 million each against ADC and Aregbesola, the embattled National Secretary of the party, in favour of Gombe.

ADC and Aregbesola had, in separate motions, asked Justice Lifu to withdraw from the suit filed by Gombe, an aggrieved party member, citing alleged bias.

NAN reports that Gombe, in the suit, is seeking an order restraining Mark, Aregbesola and members of their interim National Working Committee (NWC) from parading themselves as the party’s leaders.

He had argued that the emergence of Mark, Aregbesola and other interim NWC members as party’s leaders breached the provisions of the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.

Gombe had sued ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Ralph Nwosu as 1st to 5th defendants respectively in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025.

Nwosu was the former ADC National Chairman who stepped down for David Mark leadership of the party.