The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled May 26 for judgment in a legal challenge questioning former President Goodluck Jonathan’s eligibility to run in the 2027 presidential election.
The case, filed by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi, names Jonathan, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, as defendants. The court adjourned after lawyers representing both sides presented their arguments.
During proceedings, only INEC appeared in court; the other defendants were absent. Justice Peter Lifu, noting INEC had been properly served but failed to respond, excluded its defense from the case.
Jideobi’s counsel, Ndubuisi Ukpai, also requested the judge’s recusal, alleging bias in the case. Chief Chris Uche, SAN, representing Jonathan, dismissed the motion as “frivolous and baseless,” claiming the plaintiff misrepresented facts and sought a preemptive political ruling.
The AGF, represented by Mrs. Maimuna Lami-Shiru, urged the court to reject the motion, emphasizing that judicial recusal is warranted only when impartiality is genuinely at risk. She described the plaintiff’s request as an abuse of court process and requested N2 million in legal costs.
On the main suit, the defendants argued the case was hypothetical and speculative, citing prior judgments from the Federal High Court in Yenagoa and the Court of Appeal. Jonathan’s legal team sought the dismissal of the suit with N50 million in costs.
Justice Lifu adjourned the matter until May 26 for a composite judgment, concluding the hearing after addressing all preliminary objections and motions.
