By Vivian Okejeme
Former President, Goodluck Jonathan, has challenged a suit instituted by a lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, seeking to disqualify him from contesting 2027, presidential election.
Jideobi is before Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, contesting the eligibility of the former president to contest in the next election.
Aside, the former President, the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) are mentioned as the 2nd and 3rd defendants in the
When the matter was called, Friday, counsel to Jonathan, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, informed the court that a letter of conditional appearance, a notice of preliminary objection, a counter affidavit and a written address had been filed on May 5 ,praying the court to dismiss the case.
The senior lawyer told Justice Lifu said his legal team got the information about the case through the media.
Therefore, there is need to file their processes urgently going by the importance of the matter.
According to him, it is unfortunate that such a suit is filed by a lawyer who should know more that this same matter had been decided by the Federal High Court up to Court of Appeal.
Earlier, counsel to the plaintiff, Ndubuisi Ukpai, informed the court that the matter was for mention but he was just being served by Jonathan’s proceeses.
He said he would need more time to respond.
Justice Lifu adjourned the matter until May 11 by 2pm for hearing of the ex-president’s objection and the substantive suit.
The judge also ordered that hearing notices be issued and served on the parties that were not in court.
The Plaintiff, who filed the suit on constitutional grounds, urged the court to issue an order of perpetual injunction, restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party in the country for the purpose of contesting in the poll.
Also, he urged the court to restrain the electoral umpire from accepting from any political party, Jonathan’s name or publishing same as a duly nominated candidate for the election.
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