By George OPARA
Presiding Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed May 15 as deadline for hearing in a suit seeking to stop Jonathan’s eligibility for re-election.
Barrister Johnmary Jideobi, is the plaintiff who filed the suit seeking to bar former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting 2027 presidential polls.
The judge on Monday postponed the hearing date for the absence of the plaintiff and his lawyer in court without any information.
Not only the plaintiff and his counsel were absent but the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, who are 2nd and 3rd defendants in the matter, were also not in court.
But Chris Uche, SAN, representing former President Goodluck Jonathan, applied to the court to strike out the suit for lack of diligent prosecution.
Having joined issues with each other, Uche argued that the suit is liable for dismissal with a N5 million cost to be awarded against the plaintiff and payable to Jonathan.
He added that from all indications, the plaintiff has abandoned the suit and ran away upon sighting the preliminary objections raised against the suit, adding that the court is a busy place and not for unserious matters.
However, Justice Lifu noted that there was no evidence of service of hearing notice on INEC and AGF to appear in court for the suit adding that lack of service of hearing notice is fundamental.
The judge said rather than striking out the suit, he prefers to bend backward to accommodate the plaintiff and the two defendants for the last time.
While shifting the matter to May 15, Justice Lifu ordered that hearing notice be served on the plaintiff and the 2nd and 3rd defendants who were not in court on Monday
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