Federal High Court Adjourns APC Suit to Sept 28 Due to Late Filing by Defense Counsel
By Phillip Zhattau
A Federal High Court sitting in Jos Division, presided over by Honorable Justice Monica Agishi, on Tuesday, ordered the claimant’s counsel to leave their response to the defendant’s counsel, All Progressives Congress (APC).
Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Gyang Zi approached the court to challenge his exclusion by the APC during the party primaries conducted nationwide.
However, proceedings in a suit filed at the Federal High Court against the All Progressives Congress (APC) were stalled because the claimant could not complete filing his response by Tuesday, July 14, 2026, despite the court granting him additional time to reply to a late defense.
Claimant’s counsel, Edward Pwajok SAN, told journalists after the hearing that the APC had only recently filed and served its statement of defense.
He explained that, due to the late service, the court ruled that the claimant, Gyang Zi, is entitled to file a reply to address the new issues raised in the defense.
“The judge’s rules provide for a reply when a defense is served. The court has, therefore, adjourned to give us that opportunity,” Pwajok SAN stated.
Justice Dorcas Agishi, the presiding judge, adjourned the indefinite hearing to September 28, 2026.
He told journalists that once the reply is filed, the issues will be considered joined, and the case will be ready for hearing; for now, the matter is not ripe for hearing.
No arguments were presented at Tuesday’s sitting. The next step is for the claimant to file the reply and exchange the necessary documents, after which, the court is expected to set a date for the full hearing.
Pwajok SAN added that his team will complete all necessary processes before the next adjourned date.
