The Federal Capital Territory High Court in Maitama, Abuja, has ordered the service of a hearing notice on the All Progressives Congress following the absence of a representative to appear for the party in the ongoing nomination fee refund suit brought against it by a former aspirant.
The complainant, a former aspirant for the position of APC Deputy National Chairman (North), Sunny Moniedafe, in a suit marked FCT/HC/CV/2434/2024, sued the ruling party, demanding the refund of the ₦10 million he paid for a Nomination Form in 2022.
Moniedafe explained that ahead of the APC’s National Convention on March 26, 2022, he purchased the ₦10 million Nomination Form to contest the position of Deputy National Chairman (North).
He further stated that during the convention, the party’s leadership, under then-President Muhammadu Buhari, urged aspirants to step down, as the position of Deputy National Chairman had been agreed to go to someone from Borno State in the North-East geopolitical zone.
According to Moniedafe, the leadership had reached a consensus on a candidate and directed other aspirants to step down, with ex-President Buhari instructing that those who complied should be refunded their money.
However, Moniedafe said, “Disappointingly, the leadership of the defendant reneged on its promise and blatantly refused, failed, and neglected to refund the said ₦10 million from March 2022 to the time of filing this case, despite repeated demands by me.”
At the resumed sitting on Monday, both the plaintiff, Moniedafe, and his lawyer, Okoi Obono-Obla, were present in court. However, no appearance was made for the defendant, nor was there any legal representative for the APC in court.
The presiding judge, Justice Yusuf Halilu, ordered that a hearing notice be served on the APC ahead of the next hearing date.
The defendant is not in court and not represented,” Justice Halilu noted.
Justice Halilu acknowledged the statement of defence before the court but added that there was no proof that the plaintiff had been served. “I can see no proof of service here,” he said.
He instructed the court registrar to expedite the process by contacting the defendant’s counsel and providing them with the necessary documents so they could be served.
Obono-Obla responded, “My lord, we are very diligent. If we are served, we will respond immediately.”
The court acknowledged an application filed by the APC seeking an extension of time. In a brief ruling, Justice Halilu granted the request, stating, “The application filed by the defendant seeking an extension of time is hereby moved and granted.”
He proceeded to adjourn the case to July 15, 2025, for a hearing to determine whether the defendant had been served the hearing notice.
