The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has directed all its state chapters and officials nationwide to immediately forward any court processes served on the party to its National Legal Adviser, declaring that no state chapter or officer has the authority to receive legal service on behalf of the party or engage lawyers without prior written approval from the national headquarters.
In a public notice signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said the directive became necessary following reports that court processes relating to the party were being served on state chapters, while some legal practitioners had allegedly been engaged without the knowledge or approval of the National Legal Adviser.
The party stressed that, in line with its constitution, only the National Legal Adviser is empowered to issue instructions to legal practitioners to represent or act on behalf of the ADC in any court, tribunal, arbitration, administrative proceeding or other legal process.
The notice directed all state chapters, executive committee members, officers, particularly State Legal Advisers, and party representatives not to receive, accept, acknowledge or take custody of any court process purportedly served on the party at state secretariats, local offices or through any state officer.
It further warned that no state chapter, State Legal Adviser, State Executive Committee member or any other state-level official has the authority to engage counsel, file court processes, enter appearances, concede claims, compromise proceedings or otherwise represent the legal position of the party without the express written approval of the National Legal Adviser.
According to the ADC, any court process served on a state chapter or officer would not be regarded as valid service on the party and must be transmitted immediately to the National Legal Adviser at the party’s national headquarters in Abuja. It added that where a court authorises substituted service, such processes should be forwarded electronically without delay.
The party warned that any unauthorised handling of litigation or engagement of legal practitioners in its name could attract disciplinary action under the ADC Constitution and other applicable rules.
The leadership also directed all state chapters to circulate the notice to relevant officers and members for immediate compliance.
