By Anthony Ochela
Justice Ngozika Nwabulu on Thursday awarded a cost of N250,000 each against five defendants in the suit instituted by Hon. Adamu Dattijo and another against Mallam Nasiru El-Rufia and four others.
Justice Nwabulu took the decision following the failure of the defendants to comply with court rules in response to the issues raised by the claimants in the suit.
The suit marked: FCT/HJ/GAR/CV/383/2025, has Hon. Adamu Ahmad Dattijo and Alhaji Suleiman Abdullahi as Claimants while defendants include Malam Ahmed Nasiru El-Rufai, Jafaru Sani, Bashir Saidu, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The case, filed on September 9, 2025, seeks an order restraining the National Chairman of the ADC from recognizing Malam Ahmed Nasiru El-Rufai, Jafaru Sani, and Bashir Saidu as members of the Party.
At the day’s sitting the 3rd to 5th defendants were represented by Barr. B.E. Eleng while the 1st and 2nd defendants were not represented.
Counsel for the claimants, Taiwo Hassan informed that court their processes were served on all the defendants but no response was received from any of them.
Hassan said such a development amounts to non-compliance with the rules of the court and the defendants should be sanctioned.
Reacting, Eleng pleaded with the court to give them more time to file their processes saying the witness who was supposed to depose to an affidavit was indisposed.
Objecting, Hassan said the excuse of the defendants was weak and should not be entertained.
He noted that while the 3rd to 5th defendants were in court the 1st and 2nd defendants were not even present.
Hassan, therefore, urged the court to award a cost of five hundred thousand naira(N500,000) each against the defendants.
Ruling, Justice Nwabulu awarded a cost of N250,000 each against the defendants for non-compliance with court rules and to be paid before the next adjourned date.
The court subsequently adjourned the matter to October 20, 2025 for continuation.
