A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned indefinitely the leadership dispute within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after the plaintiff applied for the case to be reassigned to another judge.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the adjournment sine die on Friday following disagreements among parties over a letter written by plaintiff Nafiu-Bala Gombe to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court seeking the transfer of the suit. Counsel for the plaintiff, Luka Haruna, told the court that the Supreme Court had dismissed an interlocutory appeal by second defendant David Mark and lifted a stay of proceedings earlier granted by the Court of Appeal.
Defence lawyers opposed the transfer request, accusing the plaintiff of forum shopping and attempting to delay proceedings. They said they had not been served with the letter dated May 4 and described the move as an ambush against an accelerated hearing earlier ordered by the appellate court.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite said the court could not take a position on the transfer request without hearing all parties. He held that the matter should remain on hold pending further directives from the Chief Judge and the filing of the Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgment.
