Former President Goodluck Jonathan has asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to dismiss a suit seeking to stop him from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday challenged a suit filed before a Federal High Court in Abuja by a lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, seeking to restrain him from contesting the 2027 presidential election. Jonathan, through his lawyer, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, informed the trial judge, Justice Peter Lifu, that a conditional appearance, notice of preliminary objection, counter-affidavit and written address had been filed on May 5, asking the court to dismiss the case.
Uche told the court that Jonathan’s legal team became aware of the suit through media reports and had to urgently respond because of the significance of the matter concerning the former president’s eligibility to contest the 2027 election. He argued that it was unfortunate that such a suit was instituted by a lawyer despite previous judicial decisions on the same issue by both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal. Counsel to the plaintiff, Ndubuisi Ukpai, however, informed the court that he had only just been served with Jonathan’s processes and needed time to study them before responding.
Justice Lifu subsequently adjourned the matter till Monday, May 11, for hearing of Jonathan’s objection and the substantive suit, while also ordering hearing notices to be served on the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Attorney General of the Federation, who are listed as defendants in the case. In the suit, the plaintiff asked the court to determine whether Jonathan remained eligible to contest Nigeria’s presidency again under Sections 1(1), (2), (3), and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution. “The plaintiff believes that the 1st defendant, having completed the unexpired term of late President Yar’Adua and subsequently served a full term after the 2011 election, has exhausted the constitutional limit of two tenures as president,” an affidavit filed in support of the suit stated.
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