Madonna
© AFP/File Yelena FedorovaLILONGWE (AFP) - Judge Andrew Nyirenda adjourned the hearing until November 13 after lawyers for the singer, the rights group and the government appeared at a closed-door hearing at the high court in the administrative capital Lilongwe.
"The hearing has been postponed until November 13 for the closed-door chamber to hear further arguments," Justin Dzodzi, a spokesman for the coalition of 67 rights groups, told reporters outside the court.
Madonna's lawyer Allan Chinula confirmed that the case had been adjourned.
"The rights groups have been asked to prepare more arguments," he told reporters. "We have already given our evidence to the court."
The government was represented in the court by attorney general Jane Ansah, who was seen coming out of the chamber.
The alliance of rights groups alleges the government breached its own laws by allowing 13-month-old David Banda to be flown out of the country to be taken to the American pop star's home in London only days after she first applied to adopt him.
Would-be adoptive parents are usually subject to an 18-month period of monitoring and the rights groups believe the process was fast-tracked for the multi-millionaire, who was given an interim custody order earlier this month.
David's father Yohane had also travelled to Lilongwe for the hearing. He reiterated his call for the rights groups to drop the action over fears that Madonna could react by sending his son back to his poverty-stricken homeland.
"I gave David to Madonna with all my heart so that she should bring him up and give him a better life," he told reporters outside the court.
"I am worried about the case here because it might jeopardise the chances for David.
"I don't agree with the action taken by the rights groups. Where were they when Madonna came to Malawi to seek this adoption? I want David to be kept by Madonna."
The father, who was accompanied by two relatives, said he was surprised that the court had agreed to hear the legal challenge.
"I am surprised by this case, that's why I have come to see its outcome. If it was a village court, there would have been no case at all."
Chinula insisted that the rights groups did not have a case as Madonna had "followed the adoption process to the letter."
"The interim order was for custody of the child and after 18 months we will comeback to court for a full adoption order," he added.
In an interview with US talk show host Oprah Winfrey on Wednesday, Madonna insisted the adoption process had been conducted properly and she had not used her vast wealth to fast-track the process.
©AFP