ADC warns against alleged interference in Nafiu Bala case, urges judiciary to act

The African Democratic Congress has alleged a plot to pressure Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja to recuse himself from the Nafiu Bala Gombe case.

The party said such efforts could pave the way for the case to be reassigned to judges allegedly considered politically compliant.

In a statement, ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi accused unnamed political actors of attempting to influence the judicial process in what it described as a politically sensitive matter.

“The party has uncovered a disturbing plot by desperate forces within the corridors of power to frustrate the course of justice by mounting pressure on Justice Nwite to step aside from the case so that it can be reassigned to judges perceived to be pliable and politically compliant,” Abdullahi said.

He stressed that judicial recusal should only be based on established legal principles and not political pressure.

“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 backdoor.”

The ADC said concern grew after its legal team noted that the matter had been fixed for hearing on May 8, 2026, despite the Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgment not yet being released to the trial court.

The party said it had “credible reasons to believe” that the urgency surrounding the case was part of a strategy to pressure Justice Nwite into stepping down.

“We have credible reasons to believe that this unusual haste is part of a calculated scheme to force Justice Nwite into recusing himself, thereby creating an opening for the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to transfer the matter to judges allegedly considered more amenable to political influence,” Abdullahi stated.

According to the ADC, any attempt to remove the judge through “administrative manipulation, intimidation, blackmail, or coordinated pressure” would amount to interference with justice.

The party warned that growing efforts to secure “friendly courts” and “convenient judges” pose a serious threat to constitutional democracy and judicial independence.

It called on the National Judicial Council, the Chief Justice of Nigeria and judicial stakeholders to act swiftly to preserve confidence in the legal system.

The ADC also urged international observers and diplomatic missions in Nigeria to monitor developments closely, warning against a repeat of past political crises linked to judicial controversies.

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