By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
A Federal High Court in Abuja has fined Johnmary Jideobi, who is the plaintiff in the suit seeking the determination of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s eligibility to contest the 2027 presidential election, N1 million over delays in prosecuting the suit.
Justice Peter Lifu, while ruling in the matter on Friday, May 15, faulted both the plaintiff and his lawyer, Ndubuisi Ukpai, over what he described as a lack of diligence in prosecuting the suit.
Justice Lifu described the repeated actions of the plaintiff and his counsel, which allegedly stalled proceedings, as “unacceptable.”
In his ruling on Friday, Justice Lifu said political matters required an 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.
Justice Lifu consequently ordered the plaintiff to serve all court processes on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation, who are the second and third defendants, respectively, within two hours.
The judge 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.
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 on Friday, May 8, that Jonathan only became aware of the suit through media reports before the suit was filed and served with process.
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 the former president’s lawyer had earlier sought N5 million as cost, the court declined the request in the interest of fair hearing.
“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,” Justice Lifu stated.
Earlier, when the matter was called on Friday, neither Jideobi nor Ukpai was initially in court.
However, counsel for Jonathan, Uche, and the lawyer representing the AGF, J.D. Esho, were present.
Following the court registrar’s confirmation that hearing notices had been served, Uche urged the court to dismiss the suit with substantial costs over the plaintiff’s repeated absence.
Jonathan’s lawyer said 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 by instituting the suit against a former president and then abandoning 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 bulldogs, 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 with a hearing notice for Friday’s proceedings, the commission had not been served with the originating summons.
Ukpai later entered the courtroom midway through the proceedings and apologised for his lateness.
The plaintiff, 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, arguing his eligibility for the election.
He is also asking the court to stop INEC from accepting, processing, or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate.
In the suit, the plaintiff 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.
