The Federal High Court in Abuja has decried what it described as lack of diligence in prosecuting a suit seeking to disqualify former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
Justice Peter Lifu, who presided over the matter on Friday, imposed a N1m fine on the plaintiff, Johnmary Jideobi, and his counsel, Ndubuisi Ukpai, for the delay in the suit.
The judge said the conduct of the plaintiff amounted to unnecessary delay in a case that, by its political nature, required accelerated hearing.
He noted that since the suit was filed in October 2025, the claimant had failed to properly serve key defendants, including the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Delivering a ruling, Justice Lifu said political matters required 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.
The judge consequently ordered the plaintiff to serve all court processes on the INEC and the Attorney-General of the Federation within two hours.
He also directed the second and third defendants to file their responses before 11am on May 18, 2026.
Justice Lifu thereafter adjourned the matter till May 18 for 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 that the former president only became aware of the suit through media reports before filing and serving his processes.
Justice Lifu further noted that neither the plaintiff nor his lawyer appeared in court on May 11 despite personally requesting that the matter be fixed for hearing at 2pm.
He said although Jonathan’s lawyer had earlier sought N5m as cost, the court declined the request in the interest of fair hearing.
The judge said, “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 N1m against the plaintiff but in favour of the first defendant only.”
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