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By Correspondent in Abuja.
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday came down hard on a plaintiff seeking to stop former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election, describing the conduct of both the plaintiff and his lawyer as unacceptable and detrimental to the speedy administration of justice.
Justice Peter Lifu rebuked the plaintiff, Johnmary Jideobi, and his counsel, Ndubuisi Ukpai, over what he described as persistent lack of diligence in prosecuting the politically sensitive case, and consequently awarded a ₦1 million cost against the plaintiff in favour of the former president.
Delivering a stern ruling, Justice Lifu noted that the suit, filed on October 6, 2025, had suffered repeated delays because the plaintiff failed to serve the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) with court processes for over six months.
The judge stressed that political matters require accelerated hearing in line with judicial policy and the electoral timetable, warning that litigants must not frustrate proceedings through negligence or deliberate delay.
“As this court has earlier ruled and ordered, this case has a character of politics,” the judge declared, adding that courts must ensure political cases are expeditiously determined.
Justice Lifu consequently granted the plaintiff two hours to serve all pending processes on INEC and the AGF, while directing the defendants to file their responses before May 18, 2026, when the matter will come up for definite hearing.
The court expressed displeasure that despite initiating the suit against the former president, neither the plaintiff nor his lawyer appeared in court during previous proceedings, including the May 11 sitting which had been fixed at the request of the plaintiff’s counsel.
The judge also observed that lawyers representing Jonathan only became aware of the suit through media reports but still proceeded to file all necessary processes, including a preliminary objection.
Earlier during Friday’s proceedings, counsel to the former president Chief Chris Uche, SAN, urged the court to dismiss the case with substantial cost, accusing the plaintiff and his lawyer of showing “absolute disdain and disrespect” to the court.
Uche argued that the plaintiff had dragged a former Commander-In-Chief to court only to abandon the matter, thereby wasting judicial time and inconveniencing other parties.
“The plaintiff thinks he can hold the court and other parties to ransom and stay back in the comfort of his house while dragging all of us to court,” the senior lawyer said.
He urged the court to protect its dignity by invoking disciplinary measures against the plaintiff, insisting that there must be consequences for actions that undermine judicial proceedings.
Counsel representing the Attorney-General of the Federation, J.D. Esho, also informed the court that her office had not been served with the originating summons despite being joined in the suit months ago.
The court registrar equally confirmed that while INEC had received hearing notices, the electoral body had not been served with the substantive court processes filed by the plaintiff.
Midway into the proceedings, the plaintiff’s lawyer, Ukpai, eventually arrived in court and apologised for his lateness, blaming it on a vehicle breakdown on the way to court.
However, Justice Lifu held that the plaintiff’s conduct had stalled proceedings and warranted sanctions.
“Punishment should lie where the fault is,” the judge ruled while awarding ₦1 million cost against the plaintiff.
The matter was subsequently adjourned till May 18, 2026, for hearing of all pending applications and the substantive suit seeking to stop Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
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