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By John Azu
The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned indefinitely the suit filed by an African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Nafiu Gombe, challenging the party’s working committee led by David Mark.
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter on Friday after Gombe informed the court that he had applied to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for the transfer of the case to another judge.
The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 has generated a fresh leadership crisis within the ADC following the emergence of Mark and former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, in the party’s leadership structure.
At the resumed proceedings, Gombe’s counsel, Luka Musa Haruna, told the court that the Supreme Court had on April 30 dismissed the interlocutory appeal earlier filed by Mark against the proceedings.
He said the apex court also set aside the Court of Appeal’s order of March 9 staying proceedings in the substantive suit.
The counsel, however, disclosed that the Gombe had written a letter dated May 4, 2026 to the Chief Judge seeking reassignment of the case to another judge.
Haruna urged Justice Nwite to await the administrative decision of the Chief Judge on the request.
“At this juncture, we must humbly pray to your Lordship, to wait for the administrative decision of the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court,” Haruna said.
The request was opposed by lawyers representing the defendants, who accused the plaintiff of attempting to frustrate the accelerated hearing earlier ordered by the Court of Appeal and upheld by the Supreme Court.
Counsel to Mark, Realwan Okpanachi, faulted the motion by Gombe for allegedly ambushing the defence with the transfer request.
“We have not received any communication regarding that application. My Lord, so as it is, we don’t know the form or the content of that application. Therefore, we take the approach of the plaintiff as an ambush,” he said.
“We also consider it as an attempt to frustrate the order of accelerated hearing granted by the Court of Appeal and upheld by the Supreme Court,” he added.
After listening to the parties, Justice Nwite adjourned the matter indefinitely.