May 08, (THEWILL) — The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has reiterated its call for strict adherence to judicial independence in the ongoing leadership-related legal dispute before the Federal High Court, alleging that there are covert attempts to influence court proceedings in the matter involving Nafiu Bala Gombe.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC expressed concern over what it described as growing efforts by “desperate forces” to interfere with the judicial process and alter the course of justice in the case.
The party specifically alleged that there were attempts to pressure the presiding judge, Justice Nwite, to withdraw from the matter, a development it claimed could pave the way for reassignment of the case to another judge perceived to be more politically favourable.
According to the ADC, such actions, if allowed to persist, would undermine the credibility of the judiciary and weaken public confidence in the administration of justice.
The party further claimed that despite the absence of a Certified True Copy (CTC) of a relevant Supreme Court judgement being formally transmitted to the trial court, the matter was nonetheless scheduled for hearing before Justice Nwite, describing the development as unusual and suggestive of what it called undue procedural haste.
It argued that the situation appears inconsistent with earlier judicial directives that called for an accelerated hearing of the case by the substantive trial judge, warning that any attempt to alter that arrangement outside established legal procedures would amount to interference with due process.
The ADC maintained that judicial recusal is a strictly legal process that cannot be triggered by political pressure, administrative influence, or external agitation. It stressed that any petition or complaint against a judge must be handled transparently and in accordance with due process, with all parties given a fair hearing.
The party warned that what it described as attempts to “shop for convenient judges” pose a serious threat not only to opposition parties but also to the broader stability of Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.
It, therefore, called on the National Judicial Council (NJC), the Chief Justice of Nigeria, and other relevant judicial authorities to urgently intervene and safeguard the independence of the judiciary.
The ADC also urged civil society organisations, diplomatic missions, and the international community to monitor developments closely, insisting that democratic governance cannot thrive where judicial processes are subject to political manipulation.
Reaffirming its position, the party stressed that the judiciary remains the last hope of the common man and must be protected from all forms of interference, intimidation, or political pressure.
It cautioned that Nigeria must not allow itself to relapse into an era where judicial decisions are influenced by political considerations rather than the rule of law, warning that such a trajectory would endanger democratic governance.
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