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The Federal High Court Hears Applications To Deregister ADC, Accord, Others
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday heard fresh arguments in the suit seeking the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, and other political parties, with defendants asking the court to stay proceedings pending the determination of an appeal before the Court of Appeal.
Justice Peter Lifu subsequently adjourned the matter to May 18, 2026, after hearing applications for stay of proceedings and joinder.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, was instituted by the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators against the Independent National Electoral Commission and several political parties.
At the proceedings, counsel for the sixth defendant (Accord), Musibau Adetunbi SAN, urged the court to suspend further hearing in the matter, arguing that an application relating to the proceedings had already been filed before the Court of Appeal.
Adetunbi, who cited Supreme Court authorities, argued that a lower court could not continue to entertain arguments on issues already pending before a higher court.
Counsel for the third defendant, the African Democratic Congress, Shuaib Enejo Aruwa SAN, counsel for the fourth defendant (Action Alliance), Peter Abang; counsel for the fifth defendant (Action Peoples Party); and counsel for the seventh defendant (Zenith Labour Party), all aligned with the submissions seeking a stay of proceedings.
The defence lawyers collectively argued that it was settled law that the trial court should await the outcome of proceedings at the appellate court before taking further steps in the matter.
They maintained that proceeding with the suit while an appeal was pending could prejudice the issues already submitted before the Court of Appeal.
Counsel for the APP further informed the court that an affidavit of facts had already been filed before the appellate court on May 7, 2026, and served on parties, adding that no counter-affidavit had been filed against the processes.
Abang, however, raised an additional argument on jurisdiction, contending that the fourth defendant had earlier challenged the competence of the suit and that the court should not proceed in a manner capable of pre-empting the appellate court’s decision on the issue.
Aruwa (ADC) also argued that the Court of Appeal was active and could determine the appeal within a week.
Opposing the applications, counsel for the plaintiff, Yakubu Abdullahi Ruba, argued that the appeal before the appellate court was interlocutory and did not automatically deprive the trial court of jurisdiction to continue hearing the matter.
Ruba relied on a 1989 Supreme Court decision, insisting that there was no subsisting order from either the Supreme Court or the Court of Appeal directing Justice Lifu to stay proceedings.
Counsel for the first defendant (INEC), Haliru Mohammed, told the court that he would align himself with the position of the law, while noting that the electoral body had already filed a counter-affidavit to the substantive suit.
Counsel for the AGF, O.A. Abdulraheem, did not take any position on the issue.
The court also entertained several applications for joinder filed by politicians seeking to be made defendants in the suit.
Counsel for an applicant seeking to be joined as the eighth defendant, M.E. Sherriff, urged the court to grant the application filed on behalf of a serving member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Sani Yakubu Noma.
Sherriff argued that his client, being a member of the ADC, would be directly affected if the party was deregistered.
Another applicant seeking to be joined as the ninth defendant, Abayomi Oluwafemi, told the court through his counsel, that he intended to contest the Ogun State governorship election on the platform of the ADC, and would therefore be adversely affected if the party was deregistered.
The sixth defendant also moved separate applications seeking the joinder of two governorship candidates of the Accord Party in Osun and Ekiti states, as the 10th and 11th defendants.
Responding, counsel for the plaintiff opposed all the joinder applications, arguing that the applicants were not necessary parties since no reliefs were being sought against them.
The plaintiff further contended that one of the applicants had admitted in his affidavit that he belonged to the Labour Party, which was not a defendant in the suit.
He urged the court to dismiss the applications and award N50 million costs.
Counsel for the applicants, however, argued that parties likely to be adversely affected by the outcome of a suit were entitled to be joined under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.
The judge thereafter adjourned the matter to May 18, 2026, for ruling and adoption of all processes for final determination.
The Federal Government has pledged to prioritise funding for the Nigeria Police Force amid growing security concerns across the country and has assured that approved funds for police operations will be released promptly to strengthen security and electoral processes.
This was contained in a press statement issued on Monday by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, Bawa Mokwa, following a meeting between the Accountant-General of the Federation, Dr Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, and the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, in Abuja.
According to the statement, Ogunjimi assured the police hierarchy of the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring timely funding for security operations, stressing that the role of the Nigeria Police Force in tackling insecurity remained critical.
“The Accountant-General of the Federation, Dr Shamseldeen Ogunjimi, has expressed the Federal Government’s readiness and commitment to ensure prompt release of approved funds to the Nigeria Police Force in order to strengthen its operations and tackle insecurity across the country,” the statement read.
The Accountant-General of the Federation said the security challenges confronting the country required stronger institutional support for the police to enable the force to discharge its statutory responsibilities effectively and professionally.
“The role of the Nigeria Police Force in addressing the nation’s security challenges is enormous and requires adequate support to enable the Force discharge its responsibilities effectively and professionally,” the statement added.
Ogunjimi also linked the need for sustained funding to preparations for the forthcoming off-season governorship elections scheduled for June and August 2026, noting that security agencies would require significant financial backing to ensure peaceful electoral exercises.
“Dr Ogunjimi also assured the IGP that the forthcoming off-season elections scheduled for June and August 2026 would require substantial support from the Federal Government to ensure seamless police operations during the electoral process,” the statement added.
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The Accountant-General of the Federation further urged the police leadership to sustain engagement with the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy to facilitate the release of outstanding funds owed to the force.
He warned that inadequate funding could undermine critical police operations and efforts to combat insecurity nationwide.
“He urged the Inspector-General of Police to also continue his engagement with the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy to facilitate the release of outstanding funds owed to the Police, noting that inadequate funding could hinder critical security operations,” the statement noted.
Earlier, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, appealed for the immediate release of pending funds to support policing activities across the country.
According to the statement, Disu stressed that adequate funding remained essential for the police to effectively discharge their constitutional responsibilities, particularly as preparations intensify for the off-season elections.
“He also highlighted the importance of adequate funding for the forthcoming off-season elections in June and August 2026, stressing that the Nigeria Police Force would play a critical role in ensuring peaceful and credible elections,” the statement stated.
Nigeria has continued to grapple with widespread security challenges, including banditry, kidnapping, insurgency, communal clashes, and attacks on critical infrastructure.
The PUNCH earlier reported that military and paramilitary agencies received a total of N2.3tn in special intervention funding between October 2023 and September 2025, according to documents from the Federation Account Allocation Committee.
The Central Bank of Nigeria has warned non-interest financial institutions against governance and compliance risks capable of undermining public confidence and financial stability in the country’s growing Islamic finance sector.
The warning was contained in a press statement issued by the apex bank on Monday following the 2nd Annual Interactive Session between the CBN Financial Regulation Advisory Council of Experts and the Advisory Committees of Experts of Non-Interest Financial Institutions held at the CBN Auditorium in Abuja.
Speaking through the Director of the Financial Policy and Regulation Department, Dr Rita Sike, the Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability, Philip Ikeazor, said the rapid expansion of the industry had increased exposure to operational and regulatory vulnerabilities.
The statement read, “The Deputy Governor, however, observed that as the industry grows in size, sophistication, and interconnectedness, it faces unique risks, particularly non-compliance risk, governance challenges, operational vulnerabilities, and emerging technological risks.
“He warned that such risks, if not properly managed, could undermine public confidence, financial stability, and the overall credibility of the non-interest finance ecosystem.”
According to the CBN, the engagement was part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Shariah governance, improve regulatory clarity, and reinforce risk management standards within the non-interest financial services industry.
The apex bank noted that non-interest financial institutions continued to play an increasingly important role in Nigeria’s financial system by providing ethical and Shariah-compliant alternatives to conventional banking.
It stated that the institutions were also contributing to financial inclusion, real sector financing, micro, small, and medium enterprises development, and shared prosperity.
The CBN further explained that the establishment of FRACE and the mandatory constitution of ACEs across all non-interest financial institutions were designed to institutionalise a harmonised governance framework for the sector.
According to the statement, sustained interaction between FRACE and ACEs remained critical to ensuring that regulatory expectations were properly understood and consistently implemented across the industry.
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“The objectives of today’s session include fostering the institutionalisation and effective operation of a robust Shariah governance system within Non-Interest Financial Institutions, and providing a structured platform for dialogue, knowledge-sharing, and collaboration,” Ikeazor was quoted in the statement.
In his remarks, the Deputy Chairman of FRACE, Prof Bashir Umar, said the interactive session was aimed at strengthening governance within the non-interest finance sub-sector and promoting constructive engagement between regulators and industry advisory committees.
He also commended the management of the CBN for reviving the session, which was first introduced in 2014.
Earlier in her welcome remarks, Sike reaffirmed the apex bank’s commitment to building a strong and well-governed non-interest financial services industry.
She noted that the growing diversity of products and delivery channels, particularly the emergence of Islamic fintech, had increased the need for stronger regulatory oversight and continuous engagement among industry stakeholders.
“The growing diversity of products, institutions, and delivery channels, particularly with the emergence of Islamic fintech, underscores the need for continuous dialogue, sound regulatory oversight, and robust advisory input from scholars and practitioners,” she said.
The session featured technical presentations on Shariah non-compliance risks in non-interest banks and the role of Islamic fintech in driving financial inclusion.
Participants at the event included members of FRACE, chairmen and members of various ACEs, managing directors of non-interest banks, senior CBN officials, and representatives of the Bank of Industry and the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The PUNCH earlier reported that experts in Nigeria’s non-interest finance space called for larger and more frequent Sukuk issuances to deepen the market, unlock long-term capital for infrastructure, and widen financial inclusion, as volatility in global markets pushes investors towards asset-backed and ethical instruments.
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