The African Democratic Congress has sounded the alarm over what it calls a plot to interfere in judicial proceedings. ADC accuses the federal government of pressuring Justice Nwite to step aside from a case involving Nafiu Bala Gombe.
In a statement released Thursday, the party's National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, laid bare the allegations. He said desperate forces within government are trying to frustrate justice through covert manipulation.
According to ADC, the scheme aims to remove Justice Nwite so the matter can go to judges seen as politically compliant. Such interference, the party contends, would undermine judicial integrity entirely.
ADC's legal team has raised red flags about the timing of proceedings. They note that the case was fixed for May 8, 2026, even though the Supreme Court's certified copy hasn't been formally released to the trial court yet.
The party views this unusual speed as deliberate. It's designed, they argue, to pressure Justice Nwite into stepping down from the bench.
Once he recuses himself, ADC fears the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court will reassign the matter. The new judge, they claim, would be someone more amenable to political pressure.
Abdullahi noted this contradicts directives from both the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Those orders called for accelerated hearings before the substantive trial judge, not administrative shuffling.
The ADC warns that removing the case through manipulation amounts to gross interference in justice. Such tactics—whether through pressure, intimidation, or blackmail—strike at democracy's foundations.
In his statement, Abdullahi stressed a critical point: judicial recusal isn't political currency. It's an extraordinary measure grounded in law, facts, and established judicial principles, not whispers from politicians.
He added that even where petitions exist against judges, due process must be followed. All parties deserve notice and a fair hearing before decisions are made.
A judge cannot simply abandon constitutional duties because vested interests have leveled allegations. That's not how judicial systems work in democracies.
ADC paints a troubling picture for Nigeria's future. What's happening, the party argues, represents an alarming attempt to turn courts into extensions of partisan politics.
The obsession with securing "friendly courts" and "convenient judges" threatens opposition parties especially. But more dangerously, it endangers constitutional democracy itself.
Abdullahi called on the National Judicial Council to intervene immediately. Nigeria's Chief Justice and all principled judges must halt this descent into judicial compromise.
ADC also urged the National Judicial Council, international community, and diplomatic missions to monitor developments closely. They want external pressure on Abuja to respect democratic norms and judicial independence.
