The Federal High Court in Abuja has slated Friday for ruling on a suit seeking the disqualification of Nigeria’s president-elect, Bola Tinubu, as a candidate in the 25 February presidential election.....CONTINUE READING
The suit, by implication, also seeks to stop Mr Tinubu from taking the oath of office on 29 May…..CONTINUE READING
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court had on Monday fixed Friday for judgement in a suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party challenging Mr Tinubu’s victory on account of the alleged double nomination of Kashim Shettima as his vice-presidential pick and as a senatorial candidate for the 2023 general elections.
The case at the Supreme Court is different from PDP’s petition challenging Mr Tinubu’s victory at the 25 February presidential election. In total, there are three petitions against Mr Tinubu’s election pending at the election petition court, where the alleged inappropriate nomination of Mr Shettima is part of the issues raised.
The petitioners are Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, the Labour Party’s Peter Obi and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).
The applicants in the case before the Federal High Court – Praise Isaiah, Paul Audu and Anongu Moses – urged the judge, James Omotosho, to stop Mr Tinubu’s inauguration pending the conclusion of proceedings at the Presidential Election Petition Court in Abuja.
But the Presidential Election Petition Court has a statutory 180-day period to hear and determine all pending petitions before it.
The court has only concluded its pre-hearing session of the three petitions on Tuesday, setting the stage for the trial of the substantive petitions, which commences on 30 May.
Fresh suit to scuttle Mr Tinubu’s inauguration
In the fresh suit, which came up before the judge, Mr Omotosho, on Tuesday, the court asked the applicants’ lawyer, Oliver Eya, to address it on three key issues on Friday, 26 May.
Specifically, Mr Omotosho asked Mr Eya to address the court on whether it has the requisite jurisdiction to hear and determine the case.
The judge also ordered the lawyer to explain to the court whether the plaintiffs have the right to file the suit and whether they have any legal right they seek to protect with the case.
Prayers
In their requests, they urged the court to issue “an order of interim injunction restraining” Mr Tinubu “from being sworn-in as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice already filed.”
The plaintiffs are praying for an order compelling the AGF, the IGP and the DG, SSS to arrest and prosecute Mr Tinubu for the alleged offences.
In the substantive suit, they claimed that Mr Tinubu had false information about his citizenship status and date of birth.
In their court filings, the plaintiffs named the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Mr Tinubu, All Progressives Congress (APC), the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Director-General of the State Security Services (SSS), Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)…..CONTINUE READING
