ADC Alleges Plot to Remove Justice Nwite from Nafiu Gombe Case

ADC Alleges Plot to Remove Justice Nwite from Nafiu Gombe Case

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alleged that there are ongoing attempts to pressure Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja to withdraw from handling the case involving the party’s National Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe, warning that such a move could pave the way for the matter to be reassigned to judges allegedly considered politically pliable.

The opposition party made the allegation in a statement issued on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, who claimed that “desperate forces within the corridors of power” were working behind the scenes to frustrate the judicial process in the politically sensitive matter.

According to Abdullahi, the alleged plot was aimed at compelling Justice Nwite to recuse himself from the case so that the matter could be transferred to another judge perceived to be more favourable to certain political interests.

“The party has uncovered a disturbing plot by desperate forces within the corridors of power to frustrate the course of justice by mounting pressure on Justice Nwite to step aside from the case so that it can be reassigned to judges perceived to be pliable and politically compliant,” Abdullahi stated.

He stressed that judicial recusal should not be used as a political tool or manipulated for convenience by individuals seeking favourable outcomes through indirect means. “Judicial recusal is not a toy for political convenience. It is an extraordinary measure guided by law, facts, and established judicial principles, not by whispers from desperate political actors seeking favourable outcomes through the backdoor,” he added.

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The ADC further claimed that its legal team observed what it described as unusual developments surrounding the handling of the matter, particularly the scheduling of the case despite the absence of the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Supreme Court judgment.

According to the party, although the Supreme Court judgment had not yet been formally transmitted to the trial court, the case was still fixed before Justice Nwite for hearing on May 8, 2026.

Abdullahi alleged that the accelerated pace of proceedings raised concerns that there could be a deliberate strategy to pressure the judge into stepping aside. “We have credible reasons to believe that this unusual haste is part of a calculated scheme to force Justice Nwite into recusing himself, thereby creating an opening for the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to transfer the matter to judges allegedly considered more amenable to political influence,” he said.

The opposition party maintained that any effort to remove the case from Justice Nwite through intimidation, administrative pressure, blackmail or coordinated political influence would amount to interference in the judicial process.

According to Abdullahi, the actions being alleged pose a serious threat to judicial independence and democratic governance. “Any attempt to remove the case from Justice Nwite, whether by administrative manipulation, intimidation, blackmail, or coordinated pressure, amounts to a deliberate interference in the due administration of justice,” he stated.

“A judge does not abandon his constitutional duty merely because vested interests have manufactured allegations against him.”

The ADC also warned that the growing trend of seeking “friendly courts” and “convenient judges” could undermine public confidence in the judiciary and weaken Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.

“The growing desperation to procure friendly courts and convenient judges poses a grave danger not only to opposition parties but to the survival of constitutional democracy itself,” the party added.

The party called on the National Judicial Council (NJC), the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and senior members of the judiciary to closely monitor the situation and ensure that the integrity of the judicial process is protected.

ADC also appealed to members of the international community and diplomatic missions in Nigeria to observe developments surrounding the case.

Political observers say the controversy reflects increasing tension within opposition politics and the judiciary ahead of the 2027 general elections, as legal disputes, leadership battles and coalition talks continue to reshape Nigeria’s political landscape.

At the time of filing this report, neither the Federal High Court nor Justice Emeka Nwite had officially responded to the allegations raised by the ADC.

ADC Alleges Plot to Remove Justice Nwite from Nafiu Gombe Case