Court Makes Promise Over Jonathan’s Law Suit

A Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, has promised a speedy hearing on the suit brought by over 20 Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN, against President Goodluck Jonathan, contesting his eligibility to contest the 2015 general election.

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Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court who made the promise on Monday, after ruling on the ex parte application argued by plaintiffs’ lawyer, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), said the case will be heard on a weekly basis, The Nation reports.

Owonikoko among other SANs are seeking a legal interpretation to stop Jonathan from contesting 2015 election.
Owonikoko had prayed the court to fix hearing for “the earliest possible date” in line with the Supreme Court’s practice direction, which directs a quick determination of election-related cases.
       In response, Justice Mohammed, after adjourning the case to November 12, explained that the order of accelerated hearing could only take effect after the mandatory 30 days within which the respondents were to respond to the suit.
However, he said alternatively, the order of accelerated hearing could take effect earlier if the respondents are able to respond earlier.
Meanwhile, the respondents comprised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney General of the Federation, Mohammed Adoke (SAN), but none of them were represented in court at Monday’s proceedings.
The suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/662/2014 was filed by Adejumo Mansouru Ajagbe, who claimed to be a member of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State with membership card No: 9424103 and voter’s card: 90f5b23963295789969 as well as Olatoye Wahab, who claimed to be a member of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State with membership card no: 13951303 and voter’s card: 18767722.
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The plaintiffs are seeking a court order to stop INEC and the AGF from allowing President Jonathan contest the 2015 election on the ground that the constitution states that the President having taken oath of that same office twice, should not be allowed to present himself for election to the same office the third time.
It would be recalled that not less than 20 Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SAN have revealed plans to drag President Goodluck Jonathan to court in search of important legal interpretation on the President’s eligibility to contest in the 2015 general election.
Despite the law suit to restrain President Jonathan from contesting 2015 election, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday, September 18, 2014, endorsed him (Jonathan) as its sole candidate for the 2015 presidential elections.
However, governors and state chapters of the party is also angered over a recent decision by the party to stop consensus candidacy.