A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has imposed a total cost of ₦1.25 million on former Kaduna State governor Malam Nasiru El-Rufai and four others over what it described as an abuse of court process.
Justice Ngozika Nwabulu, delivering the ruling on Thursday, ordered each of the five defendants to pay ₦250,000 for failing to file their responses to a suit brought against them by Hon. Adamu Ahmad Dattijo and Alhaji Suleiman Abdullahi.
The case, filed on September 9, 2025 (Suit No: FCT/HJ/GAR/CV/383/2025), seeks an order to restrain the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) from recognising El-Rufai, Jafaru Sani, and Bashir Saidu as members of the party.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the ADC were also listed as co-defendants in the suit.
During Thursday’s proceedings, claimants’ counsel, Taiwo Hassan, informed the court that all defendants had been duly served with the necessary processes but failed to respond.
He described their inaction as a deliberate abuse of judicial procedure and requested sanctions against them.
While the 3rd to 5th defendants were represented in court by Barrister B.E. Eleng, the 1st and 2nd defendants (El-Rufai and Sani) were absent and unrepresented.
Eleng pleaded for leniency, citing the unavailability of a key witness who was to depose to an affidavit.
However, Hassan opposed the plea, arguing that the excuse was weak and did not justify the failure to act within the stipulated time.
Justice Nwabulu agreed with the claimants, ruling that the defendants’ failure to respond was unjustified.
She awarded ₦250,000 in costs against each defendant, to be paid before the next hearing.
The matter was adjourned to October 20, 2025, for continuation.
