2027: Court fines plaintiff N1m for delaying Jonathan’s eligibility suit
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday slammed a fine of N1m on a plaintiff, Johnmary Jideobi, over delays in prosecuting a suit seeking to stop former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election. Justice Peter Lifu, who described the repeated actions of the plaintiff and his counsel, which allegedly stalled […]
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Friday slammed a fine of N1m on a plaintiff, Johnmary Jideobi, over delays in prosecuting a suit seeking to stop former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
Justice Peter Lifu, who described the repeated actions of the plaintiff and his counsel, which allegedly stalled proceedings, as “unacceptable”, awarded the N1m cost against Jideobi in favour of Jonathan.
Daily Trust reports that Jideobi had instituted the suit seeking an order restraining former President Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party as a candidate for the 2027 presidential election.
The plaintiff is also asking the court to stop INEC from accepting, processing or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate.
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In the suit, he asked the court to determine whether, having regard to Sections 1(1), (2), (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, Jonathan remains eligible to seek the office of president again.
But ruling on the matter, the judge faulted both the plaintiff and his lawyer, Ndubuisi Ukpai, over what he described as lack of diligence in prosecuting the suit.
Justice Lifu noted that political matters required an accelerated hearing in line with judicial policy, adding that the plaintiff had failed to properly prosecute the case filed since October 6, 2025.
The judge said, “I have carefully and painstakingly considered all the submissions and prayers of the learned counsel in this matter. As this court has earlier ruled and ordered, this case has a character of politics.
“I have taken judicial notice of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s timetable. The duty of this court is to ensure that political cases are given accelerated hearing and disposed of expeditiously.”
The judge consequently ordered the plaintiff to serve all court processes on the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Attorney-General of the Federation within two hours.
He also directed the second and third defendants to file their responses before 11 am on May 18, 2026.
Justice Lifu, thereafter, adjourned the matter till May 18 for a definite hearing of the substantive suit and all pending applications.
While stating that the suit was instituted about six months ago, the plaintiff had yet to serve INEC and the AGF with the originating summons.
Justice Lifu noted that neither the plaintiff nor his lawyer appeared in court on May 11, despite personally requesting that the matter be fixed for a hearing at 2 pm.
He said that although Jonathan’s lawyer had earlier sought N5m as cost, the court declined the request in the interest of fair hearing.
The judge stated, “Today, it is crystal clear that the plaintiff did not serve the originating summons to the second and third defendants since October 6, 2025.
“This case is for hearing today and the hearing has been frustrated or aborted due to the tardiness of the plaintiff who is a lawyer by training and calling.
“Consequently, I hold that punishment should lie where the fault is. I hereby award the cost of N1 million against the plaintiff but in favour of the first defendant only.”