A Federal High Court in Abuja has indefinitely postponed hearing in a lawsuit challenging the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President David Mark.
Justice Emeka Nwite put the case on hold on Friday after the plaintiff informed the court that a request had already been sent to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court seeking the transfer of the matter to another judge.
The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, centres on the leadership tussle within the ADC following the emergence of David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola in key positions within the party.
During proceedings, counsel to the plaintiff, Luka Musa Haruna, told the court that the Supreme Court had, on April 30, 2026, dismissed an interlocutory appeal filed by Mark and overturned the Court of Appeal’s earlier order that halted proceedings in the case.
“The Supreme Court found the appeal lacked merit,” Haruna said.
He further explained that the plaintiff had written to the Chief Judge on May 4, requesting that the matter be reassigned, urging the court to wait for administrative directives before continuing with the case.
Lawyers representing the defendants opposed the request, arguing that it was an attempt to stall the case and frustrate the accelerated hearing earlier ordered by higher courts.
Counsel to the first defendant, Realwan Okpanachi, argued that the defence was not formally served with the application, describing the move as an ambush designed to delay proceedings.
Another defence lawyer, Sulaiman Usman, also criticised the request, calling it an act of “forum shopping and judge shopping.”
In his ruling, Justice Nwite said the court could not act on the Chief Judge’s correspondence without first hearing all parties involved, noting that doing so would violate the principle of fair hearing.
The judge subsequently adjourned the matter indefinitely, stating that further action would depend on the release of the Supreme Court’s judgment records and any directive from the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.
