Court hears Nafiu-Bala Gombe’s suit against ADC’s Mark, others on Friday
Recent reports inclusive of The DEFENDER had said leaders of Gombe State chapter of the ADC were mounting pressure on Gombe, who was widely reported last week to have expressed regrets his role in the party’s crisis, to go and withdraw his suit from the court with some sources suggesting that he would withdraw the suit on Monday May 4, 2026.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Friday, May 8, for the hearing in the suit filed by Mr Nafiu-Bala Gombe against Sen. David Mark and others over the leadership dispute in the African Democratic Party (ADC).
Recent reports inclusive of The DEFENDER had said leaders of Gombe State chapter of the ADC were mounting pressure on Gombe, who was widely reported last week to have expressed regrets his role in the party’s crisis, to go and withdraw his suit from the court with some sources suggesting that he would withdraw the suit on Monday May 4, 2026.
With the latest development, it means Nafiu Bala Gombe, who is said to have resigned as member of the ADC, did not withdraw the case as, according to a report credited to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), it was gathered on Wednesday that hearing notices had been issued to parties in the suit before trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite.
Justice Nwite fixed the date following an application letter for a hearing date in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/1819/2025, by counsel to the plaintiff (Gombe), Luka Haruna, SAN, and reportedly sighted by NAN.
The letter, dated and filed on May 5, was addressed to the Deputy Chief Registrar Federal High Court in Abuja.
The letter reads: “We, Robert Emukpoeruo, SAN, Lukman O. Fagbemi, SAN, and Lukas Musa Haruna, SAN, still representing Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, the plaintiff in the above matter pending before His Lordship, Hon. Justice Emeka Nwite of Court No. 8.
“Following the dismissal of the interlocutory appeal filed by Senator David Mark by the Supreme Court of Nigeria on April 30, 2026, we hereby apply for a date for the accelerated hearing of this matter in accordance with the judgment of the Court of Appeal.
“Find enclosed herewith, the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which ordered for the accelerated hearing of this case.
“We shall be most grateful if you bring this application to the notice of His Lordship for his prompt action.”
Justice Nwite had, on April 14, adjourned the case since die (indefinitely) following Gombe’s request to adjourn the case indefinitely to await the Supreme Court’s judgment in the appeal filed by Mark.
The judge, who adjourned the case indefinitely, declined to grant an application by Mark-led leadership of the ADC, seeking the hearing of all pending motions, including the substantive case.
Gombe, the former National Deputy Chairman of ADC, had filed the suit seeking an order restraining Mark, the embattled National Chairman; Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the National Secretary, and others from parading themselves as the party’s leaders.
Mark, the 2nd defendant in the suit filed by Gombe at FHC, had appealed against the March 12 judgment of the Appeal Court.
Gombe, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, at the FHC had sued ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Ralph Nwosu as 1st to 5th defendants respectively.
Nwosu was the former ADC National Chairman who stepped down for David Mark leadership of the party.
Gombe had argued that the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola as party’s leaders breached the provisions of the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.
