Justice Peter Odo Lifu of the Federal High Court has dismissed the objections filed by African Democratic Congress (ADC) National Chairman, Senator David Mark, and National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, against an application by party chieftain Nafiu Bala Gombe to amend his claims in the ongoing leadership dispute.
In a ruling delivered on Friday, Justice Lifu described the objections as frivolous, baseless, and lacking merit, holding that the proposed amendment was a legitimate step in civil litigation aimed at ensuring justice and preventing a miscarriage of justice.
The judge noted that the amendment became necessary following a change of counsel and dismissed concerns raised by Mark and Aregbesola as unwarranted. He added that the defendants remain free to file fresh counter-affidavits in response to the amended originating summons.
Justice Lifu ruled that the defendants would not suffer any prejudice or be overreached by the amendment, consequently dismissing their objections and granting Gombe’s application.
The court also imposed a ₦500,000 fine each on Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola, payable to the plaintiff, Nafiu Bala Gombe.
Mark and Aregbesola had opposed Gombe’s bid to amend his suit, arguing that allowing the changes would amount to a miscarriage of justice.
Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC, is challenging the emergence of Mark, Aregbesola, and other new national officers of the party. Through his counsel, Lukman Fagbemi (SAN), he maintained that the law permits necessary amendments to ensure justice is served.
