ADC Says Indefinite Adjournment Of Gombe’s Case Confirms Judicial Manipulation

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alleged attempts to manipulate the judiciary following moves by lawyers to Nafiu Bala Gombe seeking the reassignment of his suit against the David Mark-led National Working Committee of the party.

In a statement issued on Friday by the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party described the request to transfer the case to another judge as suspicious and politically motivated.

The ADC said it was “curious, if not outright laughable” that a plaintiff seeking justice would allegedly attempt to delay proceedings in his own case.

According to the party, the letter written by Bala requesting the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to reassign the matter confirmed its fears that some political actors were attempting to influence the judicial process.

“The African Democratic Congress would like to reiterate our fears that some agents of the Federal Government are making frantic efforts to manipulate the judiciary by switching the judge in the leadership matter involving Nafiu Bala,” the statement read.

The party alleged that the move formed part of a broader plot by unnamed political operatives to secure a favourable judge for the matter.

“Having received the letter written by Bala requesting the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to reassign the case to another judge, it has now been proven beyond all reasonable doubt that the sinister plot allegedly led by a notorious federal minister is indeed afoot,” the ADC stated.

The party further accused Bala and his supporters of attempting to turn the judiciary into “a shopping mall where you pick and choose judges suitable for your political schemes.”

“You cannot file a case and then begin to dictate which judge should hear it simply because proceedings are not going your way. No litigant has the right to choose a judge in his own matter,” the statement added.

The ADC also criticised what it described as efforts to seek an indefinite adjournment despite directives from the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court for an accelerated hearing of the case.

“The attempt to seek an indefinite adjournment after the clear direction of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court for a speedy trial raises serious questions about the willingness of the lower courts to obey express orders from superior courts,” the party said.

It alleged that the plaintiff and his handlers were deliberately stalling proceedings in search of a judge willing to “do their bidding and pervert the course of justice.”

The party warned that political interference and “behind-the-scenes manipulation” risked further damaging public confidence in the judiciary.

“We want to state clearly that the ADC will continue to stand by the rule of law. But the rule of law must not be replaced with judicial intimidation or forum shopping,” the statement added.

The ADC called on the courts to remain independent and resist any attempt to influence judicial proceedings.