ADC alleges bid to manipulate judiciary over Gombe suit
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the federal government of attempting to interfere in an ongoing court case involving Nafiu Bala Gombe, alleging a covert plot to pressure Justice
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the federal government of attempting to interfere in an ongoing court case involving Nafiu Bala Gombe, alleging a covert plot to pressure Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court to recuse himself from the matter.
In a statement on Thursday, its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, warned against what it described as efforts by “desperate forces within the corridors of power” to frustrate the judicial process and influence the reassignment of the case.
The party alleged that there were moves to force Justice Nwite to step aside so the matter could be transferred to judges “perceived to be pliable and politically compliant.”
According to the ADC, the alleged development amounts to a direct assault on the integrity of the judiciary and a dangerous attempt to weaponise state institutions against the opposition.
The party said that although the Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgment had yet to be released or formally communicated to the trial court, the matter was nevertheless fixed before Justice Nwite for May 8, 2026.
“We have credible reasons to believe that this unusual haste is part of a calculated scheme to force Justice Nwite into recusing himself,” the statement said.
The ADC maintained that any attempt to remove the matter from the judge's consideration through “administrative manipulation, intimidation, blackmail, or coordinated pressure” would amount to interference with the administration of justice.
“Judicial recusal is not a toy for political convenience. It is an extraordinary measure guided by law, facts, and established judicial principles, not by whispers from desperate political actors seeking favourable outcomes through the back door,” Abdullahi stated.
The party further warned that attempts to secure “friendly courts and convenient judges” posed a threat to constitutional democracy and judicial independence.
It therefore called on the National Judicial Council (NJC), the Chief Justice of Nigeria, and the international community to intervene and ensure that the judiciary remains insulated from political pressure.
“The judiciary must remain the last hope of the common man, and not the last refuge of desperate politicians terrified of justice,” the statement added.
