2027 GENERAL ELECTION: Court Dismisses Suit Seeking To Stop Goodluck Jonathan From Contesting
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by a lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, seeking to stop former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting in the 2027 presidential election. Delivering Judgement, Justice Lifu also awarded a ₦20 million fine against Jideobi and in favour of the ex-president. He equally awarded a ₦1 million fine against the plaintiff and in favour of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF). Justice Lifu held that Jideobi lacked the legal right to have instituted the suit, having not suffered any loss from his perceived Jonathan’s intention to vie for the next year’s poll. The judge, who said that a Federal High Court in Yenagoa and an Appeal Court had already held that Jonathan was eligible to run, said he was bound by the decision of the appellate court. The judge then described the lawyer’s suit as “an abuse of court process”. Justice Lifu also dismissed Jideobi’s motion seeking the judge’s withdrawal from the c...