By Ankeli Emmanuel, Sokoto
The Federal High Court siting in Sokoto Thursday adjourned till 19th of June for further hearing in the ongoing leadership tussle involving the state chapter of African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Making his submission, the visibly angry judge, Justice Ahmad Gama Mahmud said the adjournment became imperative in the interest of justice and court procedure.
Earlier at the resume hearing, Counsel to the 1st defendant,
Dr Sulaiman Usman, SAN, had filed a motion praying that they should be served with the proper and signed originating processes, arguing giving him an unsigned copy by the Registry was simply a procedural lapse that must be addressed.
“What has happened is a clear procedural error and we therefore appal that the right thing must be done to enable us respond appropriately to the originating process”, Dr. Usman SAN submitted.
Reacting to the development, the trial Judge, Justice Mahmud summoned the Court Registry to inquire why the glaring mistake. He however accepted the appeal of the Registry and ordered that a signed copy be served on the Counsel to the 1st defendant, Dr Suleiman, SAN.
Giving his position on the argument, Lead Counsel to the plaintiffs, Barrister Mathew Burkaa, SAN, agreed with the position of Dr Suleiman SAN, saying he has no objection to adjournment.
Towing same lane, the Lead Counsel to the 2nd and 3rd defendants urged the Court to guide them properly, adding the procedural error earlier raised by Dr Sulaiman Usman was germane and should be so considered
Resultantly, Justice Mahmud ordered that a duly signed copy of the originating process be served on Dr Suleiman SAN in the Court which he accepted in the interest of justice.
The Judge, then, adjourned the case to June 19th, 2026, for continuation of hearing hearing to allow the defendant respond appropriately.
It will be recalled that one faction of the Sokoto State ADC had filled a suit challenging the legality or otherwise of the leadership of the party in the state.
The aggrieved persons, had insisted that there was a hijack of power from the original owners of the offices thus amounting to an unacceptable structure of the party in the state.
