- The FCT High Court fined El-Rufai and four others ₦250,000 each for failing to file their defence in a political membership suit.
- Justice Ngozika Nwabulu issued the fine after finding the defendants unprepared to respond to the claimants’ arguments.
- The claimants, Hon. Adamu Ahmad Dattijo and Alhaji Suleiman Abdullahi, filed the case seeking to restrain ADC’s chairman from recognising El-Rufai and others as members.
- The matter has been adjourned to October 20, 2025, after the court’s ruling on the cost imposed on all defendants.
Justice Ngozika Nwabulu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court on Thursday ordered former Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai and four others to pay ₦250,000 each for failing to file their defence in a case involving the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The case, marked FCT/HJ/GAR/CV/383/2025, was filed by Hon. Adamu Ahmad Dattijo and Alhaji Suleiman Abdullahi on September 9, 2025. The duo asked the court to restrain the ADC’s National Chairman from recognising El-Rufai, Jafaru Sani, and Bashir Saidu as members of the party. Other defendants in the suit include the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) itself.
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During Thursday’s hearing, the 3rd to 5th defendants were represented by Barrister B.E. Eleng, while the 1st and 2nd defendants were absent. Counsel to the claimants, Barrister Taiwo Hassan, informed the court that all defendants had been duly served with the court processes but failed to respond within the required time frame.
Hassan described their inaction as an “abuse of court process” and urged the court to penalise them. He further noted that the excuse by the defence that their witness was unavailable to depose an affidavit was weak and unjustified.
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In response, Eleng pleaded with the court for an extension of time to enable them to file their defence. However, Justice Nwabulu agreed with the claimants’ counsel that the defendants had no valid excuse for their delay.
The judge consequently imposed a fine of ₦250,000 each on all five defendants, warning that the cost must be paid before the next sitting. The case was then adjourned to October 20, 2025, for continuation.
