By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
The Federal High Court, Abuja, presided by Justice Peter Lifu, on Monday, gave May 15 deadline for definite hearing in the suit filed by a lawyer, seeking to restrain former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting 2027 presidential election.
The judge shifted the hearing date, following the absence of the plaintiff, Johnmary Jideobi, and his lawyer in court without any information.
Apart from the absence of the plaintiff, who is a legal practitioner, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, who are 2nd and 3rd defendants in the matter, were also not in court.
Following the absence of the plaintiff and the two defendants, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, representing former President Goodluck Jonathan, prayed the court to strike out the suit for lack of diligent prosecution.
Having joined issues with each other, Uche said the suit is liable to dismissal and should be dismissed with a N5 million cost.
Justice Lifu, however, noted that there was no evidence of service hearing notice on INEC and AGF to appear in court on Monday for the hearing of the suit.
The judge said that rather than striking out the suit, he preferred to bend backwards to accommodate the plaintiff and the two defendants for the last time.
While adjourning the matter to May 15, Justice Lifu ordered that hearing notice be served on the plaintiff and the 2nd and 3rd defendants who were not in court on Monday.
The plaintiff, Johnmary Jideobi, had filed the case, seeking an order restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party as a candidate for 2027 election.
He is also asking the court to stop INEC from accepting, processing, or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate.
In the suit, the plaintiff asked the court to determine whether, based on Sections 1(1), (2), (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, Jonathan remains eligible under any circumstances to contest for Nigeria’s highest office again.
