The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has withdrawn a lawsuit against the Nigeria Police Force, citing concerns over the impartiality of the presiding judge. The party had filed the suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking an order to compel the police to vacate the PDP national secretariat and hand it over to the party’s elected leadership.
According to a statement by the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Ini Ememobong, the party had written to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court expressing concerns about the partiality of three judges, including Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, who was assigned to the case. Despite this, the case was still assigned to Justice Abdulmalik, prompting the PDP to file a motion requesting her recusal.
However, the judge declined to immediately hear and rule on the recusal motion, instead indicating that all pending applications would be taken together with the substantive suit and decided at the point of judgment. The PDP argued that this approach denied them a fair hearing, given their expressed lack of trust in the judge’s impartiality.
As a result, the party exercised its right to discontinue the suit under the Federal High Court (Civil Procedure) Rules 2019. The notice of discontinuance was filed within the allowed 14-day window, but the judge dismissed the case instead of striking it out. The PDP expressed concern that this decision further reinforced their fears regarding the court’s impartiality.
The party reiterated its respect for the judiciary but urged judges to remain neutral and distant from politics. They quoted former Supreme Court Justice Niki Tobi, who warned against the mingling of judges and politicians, which could undermine democracy. The PDP called for a clear separation between politics and justice, emphasizing the need for judges to remain impartial and not be swayed by political influences.
The withdrawal of the lawsuit highlights the ongoing tensions between the PDP and the Nigeria Police Force, as well as concerns about the independence of the judiciary. The PDP’s decision to discontinue the suit may be seen as a strategic move to avoid a potentially biased outcome, but it also underscores the need for the judiciary to ensure fairness and impartiality in its proceedings. As the political landscape in Nigeria continues to evolve, the role of the judiciary in maintaining the rule of law and upholding democratic principles will be closely watched.
