Court Orders APC to Receive Notice in N10 Million Nomination Fee Refund Suit

After the All Progressives Congress (APC) failed to show up for court hearings pertaining to a refund lawsuit filed by one of its former candidates, a High Court in Maitama, Abuja, ordered that the party be duly served with a hearing notice.
APC Deputy National Chairman (North) candidate Sunny Moniedafe, the plaintiff, is requesting the refund of ₦10 million that he paid for a nomination form prior to the party’s national convention in 2022. The case’s registration number is FCT/HC/CV/2434/2024.
According to Moniedafe, he bought the form in advance of the March 26, 2022, APC National Convention.

Nonetheless, he claimed that the party leadership, commanded by President Muhammadu Buhari at the time, demanded a unanimous choice that a candidate from Borno State, in the northeast, would be chosen for the post.
All other applicants were told to withdraw, he continued, with guarantees that those who did so would receive their money back.

Despite my repeated demands, he added, “It is disappointing that the defendant’s leadership broke its word and flagrantly refused, failed, and neglected to refund the said ₦10 million from March 2022 to the time of filing this case.”

Moniedafe was present at the session on Monday, as was Okoi Obono-Obla, his attorney. However, neither a representative nor legal counsel showed up on behalf of the APC.

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The case’s presiding judge, Justice Yusuf Halilu, voiced worry at the party’s absence. The judge noted, “The defendant is not in court and is not represented.”

In addition, he pointed out that there was no proof of service, even though the court had already received a defense filing. Justice Halilu declared, “I see no proof of service here,” and gave the registrar instructions to act quickly by informing APC’s legal counsel and making sure they obtain all pertinent court documents.

Obono-Obla said, “We are exceedingly diligent, my lord. We will react right away if we are served.

The APC filed a motion asking for further time to respond, which the judge also took into consideration. Justice Halilu declared, “The defendant’s application for a time extension is hereby moved and granted.”

He then postponed the hearing until July 15, 2025, to allow for a follow-up hearing on whether the hearing notice was delivered to the APC correctly.