Court Adjourns Hearing To Feb 20, Turaki Led- PDP Against Wike-Faction

The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, fixed Feb. 20 for hearing of the application for stay of further proceedings filed by the Kabiru Turaki-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against a suit instituted by a faction of the party in the camp of the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike.

Justice Joyce Abdulmalik adjourned the matter pending the determination of stay of proceedings and hearing of the application Instituted by the Turaki – led PDP faction through the court of Appeal to the Federal High Court.

Wike-led PDP and its acting National Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Abdulrahman, alongside Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, the factional National Publicity Secretary, Haruna Jangudu had filed the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/2501/2025, seeking an order of injunction, restraining the Turaki-led leadership (5th to 25 defendants) from parading themselves as representatives of the PDP in any capacity whatsoever.

They also prayed the court to stop the police and Department of State Services (DSS) from allowing the Turaki-led leadership access to the party’s national secretariat at Wadata Plaza in Abuja.

Justice Abdulmalik had earlier granted an ex-parte motion brought by the plaintiffs directing the parties not to take any action pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

Following the order, the Turaki-led PDP challenged the decision at the Court of Appeal and filed an application for the court to stay proceedings in the suit pending the decision of the Appeal Court.

The Turaki-led leadership, through their lawyer, equally filed a motion on notice asking Justice Abdulmalik to recuse herself from the case arguing there is likelihood of bias against them in the manner the suit had been handled by the judge.

When the case was called on Friday, lawyer to the plaintiffs, Ikpeazu, informed the court that on the last adjourned date, the court ruled that all pending applications would be taken together with the substantive case hence ready to proceed.

But Chris Uche, SAN, who appeared for the Turaki-led leadership of the PDP, informed the court that application for stay of proceedings had been duely Instituted through the court of Appeal served to trial judge hence drew the attention of the judge to the motion for recusal, asking her to withdraw from the case before the adjourned date for the plaintiffs to respond to their motion.

After the proceedings, PDP National Publicity Secretary in the Wike-led faction Hon. Haruna Jangudo said the matter was slated for hearing today to determine the judgement date bu instead the Turaki-lead faction withdrew the motion for stay earlier in the Federal High Court and moved to the Appeal court to file another motion for stay of proceedings.

“How can you wake up and say you don’t have confidence in the presiding judge anymore, why don’t you wait for the judge and if dissatisfied on the outcome then file for an appeal, present your facts and argue your case in the court this is about the third judge you are accusing of bias. Jangudo stated.”

On his part, the National Chairman of the PDP Kabiru Turaki faction said at the interlocutory stage, the judge had made overbearing orders that could affect the main issues for determination in the matter hence he an filed appeal against those orders, records transmitted, briefs filed and application for stay of proceedings.

“This facts have been brought to the attention of the trial judge from the court of Appeal to the Federal High Court for stay of proceedings until either hearing of the application for stay or the appeal itself is heard and determined, Turaki added.”

Garry Ochigbo, Edited By Grace Namiji