A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja has fixed October 20th for hearing in a motion seeking to restrain former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmed El-Rufai, and two others, from parading themselves as members or leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Justice N. C. Nwabulu fixed the date for a definite hearing after taking the claimants’ motion for an interlocutory injunction.

Justice Nwabulu refused a plea by the defendants’ counsel for an adjournment.

The judge also ordered El-Rufai and two other defendants to pay a cost of N250,000 to the claimants before the next adjourned date.

The suit was filed by Adamu Ahmad Dattijo and Alhaji Suleiman Abdullahi through their counsel, Azeez Taiwo Hassan (SAN), on behalf of themselves and other concerned ADC members in Kaduna State. The claimants are challenging the alleged recognition of El-Rufai, Jafaru Sani, and Bashir Saidu as members of the party by its national leadership.

During proceedings yesterday, Hassan informed the court that his motion for an interlocutory injunction, dated September 8, was ripe for hearing. The counsel representing the third to the fifth defendants, Mr. B. Elleng, was in court, but the first and second defendants – ADC and its National Chairman, David Mark – were not represented. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), listed as the sixth defendant, was also absent.

Counsel to the third, fourth, and fifth defendants explained that they had prepared their counter-processes but were unable to file them because their deponent was ill and could not depose to the supporting affidavit.

He prayed the court for an extended adjournment to enable them regularize their filings.

Justice Nwabulu declined the request and fixed the matter for October 20 for a definite hearing.

The claimants are seeking several reliefs, including an order setting aside the nomination and appointment of Jafaru Sani as the ADC National Vice Chairman (Northwest Zone) on the grounds of non-compliance with the party’s constitution and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

They are also praying the court to restrain El-Rufai and Sani from parading themselves as members or leaders of the ADC, and to bar the party’s national leadership and INEC from recognizing them in any official capacity.

The court had advised all parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the substantive suit. (The Nation)