From Bashir Rabe Mani, Sokoto
The Federal High Court sitting in Sokoto has adjourned the intense leadership tussle rocking the state chapter of the African Democratic Party (ADC) to June 19, 2026.
The adjournment followed a dramatic session where the presiding judge, Justice Ahmad Gama Mahmud, publicly rebuked the court’s own registry officials for structural incompetence and procedural blunders that temporarily stalled the high-stakes political suit.
The legal gridlock began when Dr. Sulaiman Usman, SAN, lead counsel for the 1st defendant, raised a critical motion of order. Usman revealed that the originating court papers served to his team were legally defective because they completely lacked the official signatures of the High Court Registry.
“The right thing should be done to enable us to respond appropriately,” Usman argued. “What happened is a clear procedural error.”
The defense’s objection was quickly backed by Professor Ibrahim Abdullahi, lead counsel for the 2nd and 3rd defendants, who urged the court to rectify the administrative failure.
The plaintiffs’ lead counsel, Barrister Mathew Burkaa, SAN, was forced to concede that a glaring administrative lapse had occurred.
The revelation visibly angered Justice Mahmud, who said: “But how comes they were not served properly? I am surprised.”
After openly reprimanding the registry staff for their negligence, the judge halted proceedings until properly signed legal documents were produced and formally served to the defense teams in the courtroom.
Justice Mahmud issued a stern warning to the court officials against future lapses before scheduling the new June 19 hearing date.
The bitter legal war centers on who legitimately controls the machinery of the ADC in Sokoto State.
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