The Federal High Court sitting in Sokoto has adjourned the case involving the Sokoto State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to June 4, 2026, for continuation of the hearing as the leadership tussle continues.
The court, presided over by Justice Ahmad Gama Mahmud, held that it would be ideal for all parties to be duly served with the processes and allowed to respond in the interest of justice.
Justice Mahmud noted that the adjournment became necessary in view of the forthcoming Sallah celebrations and the need for a fair hearing, “more than any other thing.”
The lead counsel for the 2nd and 3rd defendants, Prof. Abdullahi Ibrahim, SAN, who sought the adjournment, said that the 1st, 4th, and 5th defendants had not been served with the processes filed by the 2nd and 3rd defendants.
According to him, the counsel for the 2nd and 3rd defendants also had processes filed in the court, including a motion challenging the ex parte order granted by the court on May 8, 2026.
“The order, which was granted, abridged the time for the defendants to file their appearances to seven days, and the counsel is also challenging the suit,” he said.
Prof. Ibrahim told the court, “Justice rushed is justice crushed. The issue of fair hearing must be maintained.”
The lead counsel for the plaintiffs, Barrister Matthew Burkaa, SAN, also agreed that the defendants needed to respond to the processes filed, despite his initial objection to the request for an adjournment.
Holding brief for the counsel for the 1st defendant, Barrister Suleiman Usman, SAN, Barrister A.A. Jabo also aligned with all the submissions of Prof. Abdullahi Ibrahim, SAN.
All the counsel later agreed on the next adjourned date of June 4, 2026, for the legal battle to resume.
Recall that the court had, on Friday, May 8, 2026, adjourned 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 Matthew Burkaa, SAN, told the court that there was a “hijack of power” by the 2nd and 3rd 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 could file their defence.
He argued that the request was to ensure the case was heard and concluded before the ADC primary election in Sokoto, scheduled to begin on 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 period, the court expects the defendants to file their defences, adding, “If there are any replies to file, they will also be filed.”
