Federal High Court, Sokoto adjourns ADC case to June 19 for hearing
From Bashir Rabe Mani in Sokoto
The Federal High Court siting in Sokoto, presided by Justice Ahmad Gama Mahmud, has again adjourned the suit premised on the lingering tussle
tussle in the state chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to June 19,2026, for hearing.
Our Correspondent in Sokoto reports that Dr Sulaiman Usman, SAN, the Counsel for the 1st defendant had filed a motion praying that they should be served with the proper originating processes that are in tune with the ones the court has.
He drew the attention of the court to a procedural lapse as they were served with originating processes that had not been duly signed by the Registry officials of the Court.
He said, “The right thing should be done to enable us to respond appropriately. What happened is a clear procedural error.”
Barrister Mathew Burkaa, SAN, the Lead Counsel for the Plaintiffs however maintained that the Counsels for the Defendants had been duly served with the originating processes, although he concurred with the submissions of Dr Usman.
Also, Prof. Ibrahim Abdullahi, the Lead Counsel for the 2nd and 3rd Defendants, urged the Judge to guide them properly , agreeing to the issue of the procedural error earlier raised by Dr Sulaiman Usman.
Reacting angrily, the Judge said, “But, how comes they were not served properly, I am surprised.”
Justice Ahmad Gama Mahmud, then directed that the Counsels should be properly served, which was done after he publicly rebuked the Registry officials for the apparent lapses.
Afterwards, the duly signed originating processes were served on the Counsels, prompting a stern warning by Justice Gama against a repeat of the official negligence from the court officials.
The Judge, then, adjourned the case to June 19th, 2026, for hearing, which was not objected to by both the Counsels for the Plaintiffs and those of the Defendants.
It could be recalled that the Court had earlier adjourned the case to May 19, 2026, the hearing of the suit challenging the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the state.
The Lead Counsel to the plaintiffs, Barrister Mathew Burkaa, SAN, told the Court that there was a “hijack of power” by the second and third defendants who are allegedly claiming to be the Chairman and Secretary of the party’s Sokoto State Chapter.
He said, “That is the crux of the matter before this Court.
“We are challenging that our clients, the plaintiffs, are the rightful Chairman and Secretary of the ADC.”
The counsel moved a motion asking the Court to abridge the time within which the defendants can file their defence.
He argued that the request was to ensure the case is heard and concluded before the ADC primary election is held in Sokoto beginning from May 21 2026.
“The motion is asking for an abridgement of time so that the case can be heard expeditiously and concluded before ADC primaries are held here in Sokoto, so that the issue of leadership will be put in the right perspective before the primaries are conducted,” he submitted.
The Court granted the application, noting that time was of the essence.
It then adjourned the matter to May 19, 2026, for hearing of the substantive suit.
Expatiating further, the second Counsel for the plaintiffs, Barrister Fidelis Mnyim, said that the court had abridged the time for the defendants to file their processes and adjourned the case to May 19, 2026, for hearing of the entire matter.
According to Mnyim, within the adjournment, the Court expects that the defendants file their defences, adding, “if there is any replies to file, they will also be filed.”
