The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday adjourned a suit instituted by a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to Feb. 20, pending a decision of the Court of Appeal.
Justice Joyce Abdulmalik took the decision following an appeal filed by the Kabiru Turaki-led leadership of the PDP, challenging an interim order of the court that directed all parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
PlatinumPost reports that the suit was filed by a PDP faction aligned with the FCT minister and led by its acting National Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman.
In the action, the PDP, Abdulrahman and the factional National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, asked the court to restrain the police and the Department of State Services (DSS) from granting the Turaki-led leadership, listed as the 5th to 25th defendants, access to the party’s national secretariat located at Wadata Plaza, Abuja.
They also sought an order of injunction preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising or accepting any office address from the Turaki-led leadership other than the one already contained in its official records.
Additionally, the plaintiffs requested an injunction restraining the Turaki faction from parading itself as the leadership or representatives of the PDP in any capacity, among other reliefs.
Justice Abdulmalik had earlier granted an ex-parte application filed by the plaintiffs, directing all parties to refrain from taking further action pending the hearing and determination of the suit.
Dissatisfied with the ruling, the Turaki-led faction approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the interim order.
They also filed an application seeking a stay of proceedings at the Federal High Court pending the outcome of the appeal.
In addition, the Turaki faction, through their counsel, filed a motion on notice requesting Justice Abdulmalik to recuse herself from the matter, citing a reasonable apprehension of bias in the handling of the case.
At the resumed hearing, Justice Abdulmalik held that continuing with proceedings would amount to an exercise in futility since the appeal had already been entered at the appellate court.
She consequently adjourned the matter until Feb. 20 for a report on the decision of the Court of Appeal.
Meanwhile, in a related development, the court on Friday dismissed a separate suit filed by the PDP leadership led by Turaki.
The dismissal followed a motion for discontinuance moved by their lawyer, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, who urged the court to strike out the case.
However, Justice Abdulmalik dismissed the suit on the grounds that issues had already been joined by the parties.
The plaintiffs — the PDP, its National Chairman, Kabiru Turaki, and the National Secretary, Taofeek Arapaja — had, in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/2520/2025, sued the Inspector-General of Police and the Nigerian Police Force as first and second defendants.
They had sought an order directing police officers to vacate the party’s national headquarters at Wadata Plaza, Wuse, Abuja, among other reliefs.
The judge had earlier, on Jan. 16, ordered the joinder of parties seeking to be joined in the suit, namely the PDP’s acting National Chairman of the Wike faction, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman; the factional National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu; and the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Sen. Mao Ohuabunwa.
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