The Federal High Court in Abuja has decried what it described as lack of diligence in prosecuting a suit seeking to disqualify former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
- +Court decries delay in Jonathan’s eligibility suit, fines lawyer N1m
Justice Peter Lifu, who presided over the matter on Friday, imposed a N1m fine on the plaintiff, Johnmary Jideobi, and his counsel, Ndubuisi Ukpai, for the delay in the suit.
Justice Peter Lifu, who presided over the matter on Friday, imposed a N1m fine on the plaintiff, Johnmary Jideobi, and his counsel, Ndubuisi Ukpai, for the delay in the suit.
The judge said the conduct of the plaintiff amounted to unnecessary delay in a case that, by its political nature, required accelerated hearing.
He noted that since the suit was filed in October 2025, the claimant had failed to properly serve key defendants, including the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Delivering a ruling, Justice Lifu said political matters required accelerated hearing in line with judicial policy and noted that the plaintiff had failed to properly prosecute the case filed since October 6, 2025.
“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 said.
The judge consequently ordered the plaintiff to serve all court processes on the INEC and the Attorney-General of the Federation within two hours.
He also directed the second and third defendants to file their responses before 11am on May 18, 2026.
Justice Lifu thereafter adjourned the matter till May 18 for definite hearing of the substantive suit and all pending applications.
The court observed that although the suit was instituted about six months ago, the plaintiff had yet to serve INEC and the AGF with the originating summons.
The judge also recalled that counsel to Jonathan, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, had informed the court during earlier proceedings that the former president only became aware of the suit through media reports before filing and serving his processes.
Justice Lifu further noted that neither the plaintiff nor his lawyer appeared in court on May 11 despite personally requesting that the matter be fixed for hearing at 2pm.
He said although Jonathan’s lawyer had earlier sought N5m as cost, the court declined the request in the interest of fair hearing.
The judge said, “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 N1m against the plaintiff but in favour of the first defendant only.”
Earlier, when the matter was called, neither Jideobi nor Ukpai was initially in court.
However, counsel for Jonathan, Uche, and lawyer representing the AGF, J.D. Esho, were present.
Following confirmation by the court registrar that hearing notices had been served, Uche urged the court to dismiss the suit with substantial cost over the plaintiff’s repeated absence.
According to him, the plaintiff and his lawyer failed to communicate any reason for their absence to either the court or the defendants.
Uche accused them of showing “absolute disdain and disrespect” to the court.
He said it was surprising that the plaintiff instituted the suit against a former Commander-in-Chief and then abandoned the matter.
“The plaintiff thinks he can hold the court and other parties to ransom and stay back in the comfort of his house and drag all of us to court.
“There must be a consequence for every action. They think the courts are toothless bulldog and the dignity of the court must be protected,” Uche said.
He urged the court to invoke its disciplinary powers and dismiss the case for being an abuse of court process.
Counsel to the AGF, Esho, also informed the court that her office had not been served with the plaintiff’s originating processes, despite receiving Jonathan’s response to the suit.
The court registrar equally confirmed that while INEC had been served hearing notice for Friday’s proceedings, the commission had not been served with the originating summons.
Ukpai later entered the courtroom midway into proceedings and apologised for his lateness.
“My lord, I am sorry. I am for the plaintiff. Our vehicle broke down on the way,” he said.
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.
He is also asking the court to stop INEC from accepting, processing or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate.
The plaintiff is seeking a declaration interpreting constitutional provisions to determine whether Goodluck Jonathan remains eligible to contest the presidency again, and also asking the court to restrain INEC from accepting or publishing his name as a candidate.
