The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has raised serious concerns over what it describes as deliberate attempts by certain government agents to interfere in ongoing judicial proceedings involving Nafiu Bala Gombe, warning that any effort to manipulate the judicial process poses a grave threat to Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.

In a statement issued by the party, the ADC alleged that credible information available to its legal team points to mounting pressure being placed on Hon. Justice Nwite to recuse himself from the matter currently before his court. According to the party, the alleged objective of this pressure is to pave the way for the reassignment of the case to judicial officers perceived to be politically compliant.

The party described the development as troubling and dangerous, noting that such actions, if true, would amount to a direct assault on the independence and integrity of the judiciary.

According to the ADC, despite the fact that the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the Supreme Court judgment has not yet been released or formally communicated to the trial court, the matter was nevertheless fixed before Justice Nwite for May 8, 2026. The party expressed concern over what it termed the “unusual haste” surrounding the proceedings, arguing that it raises legitimate questions about possible external interference.

The ADC further stated that the matter had previously been directed by both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court to continue before the substantive trial judge under an accelerated hearing process. Consequently, the party insists that any attempt to remove the case from Justice Nwite through administrative pressure, intimidation, or orchestrated campaigns would undermine both judicial due process and the authority of the higher courts.

The party emphasized that judicial recusal is a legal procedure governed strictly by constitutional principles and judicial ethics, not political interests or external influence. It noted that even in situations where allegations or petitions are raised against a judicial officer, due process requires that all relevant parties be duly informed and fairly heard before any decision can be taken.

The ADC warned against what it described as a growing culture of seeking “friendly courts” and “convenient judges” for politically sensitive matters, stressing that such practices weaken public confidence in the justice system and threaten democratic governance.

“The judiciary remains the last hope of the common man and the cornerstone of every democratic society,” the statement noted. “Any attempt to intimidate judges, manipulate judicial assignments, or interfere with court proceedings for partisan advantage strikes at the very heart of constitutional order.”

The party therefore called on the National Judicial Council (NJC), the Chief Justice of Nigeria, and stakeholders within the legal community to closely monitor the situation and ensure that the sanctity and independence of the judiciary are protected at all times.

ADC also appealed to members of the international community and diplomatic missions in Nigeria to pay close attention to developments surrounding judicial independence in the country. The party stressed that democracy cannot thrive where courts are subjected to political pressure or where justice is perceived to be influenced by those in power.

Reaffirming its commitment to the rule of law and democratic principles, the ADC maintained that Nigeria must never descend into a system where judicial outcomes are determined by political interests rather than the rule of law.

The party concluded by urging all institutions of government to respect the constitutional separation of powers and allow the judiciary to perform its duties independently, fairly, and without fear or interference.