THE African Democratic Congress (ADC) has questioned the move by lawyers to Nafiu Bala Gombe seeking the reassignment and transfer of his suit against the David Mark-led National Working Committee.

In a statement signed on Friday by the National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said it was curious, if not outright laughable, that a plaintiff who claims to want justice is now running away from the speedy hearing of his own case.

The party said the letter written by Nafiu Bala, seeking to reassign the matter to another judge, is part of an attempt to manipulate the judiciary and confirms the party’s fears that agents of the ruling party are making efforts to get the case assigned to one of their preferred judges.

The party said: ”The African Democratic Congress would like to reiterate our fears that some agents of the Federal Government are making frantic efforts to manipulate the judiciary by switching the judge in the leadership matter involving Nafiu Bala.

“Having received the letter written by Bala requesting the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to reassign the case to another judge, it has now been proven beyond all reasonable doubt that the sinister plot allegedly led by a notorious federal minister is indeed afoot. This is no longer about justice or the merit of the case, but about the desperation of political operatives confronted by the utter frivolity of their case.

“With this development, it is now obvious that Nafiu Bala Gombe and his handlers are trying to turn the judiciary into a shopping mall where you pick and choose judges suitable for your political schemes.

“You cannot file a case and then begin to dictate which judge should hear it simply because proceedings are not going your way. No litigant has the right to choose a judge in his own matter.”

The opposition party said the attempt to seek an indefinite adjournment after the direction of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court for a speedy trial, raises serious questions about the willingness of the lower courts to obey express orders from superior courts.

“Instead of allowing the matter to proceed expeditiously, as any aggrieved plaintiff genuinely seeking justice would, Bala and his handlers are looking for ways to stall the case until they are able to find a judge willing to do their bidding and pervert the course of justice.

“We regret to say that this is exactly the kind of political interference and behind-the-scenes manipulation that has brought the judiciary into disrepute.

“We want to state clearly that the ADC will continue to stand by the rule of law. But the rule of law must not be replaced with judicial intimidation or forum shopping.

“The courts must remain independent, and judicial officers must be allowed to do their work without political interference or orchestrated campaigns designed to influence proceedings”. (The Guardian, excluding headline)

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