2015: Court assures on swift hearing of suit against Jonathan

2015: Court assures on swift hearing of suit against Jonathan

Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has agreed to an accelerated hearing of a suit seeking to bar President Goodluck Jonathan from participating in next year’s presidential election.
Ruling on the ex parte application argued by plaintiffs’ lawyer, Abiodun Owonikoko (SAN), Monday, the judge held that the case will be heard on a weekly basis.
Owonikoko had urged the court to fix hearing for “the earliest possible date” in line with the Supreme Court’s practice direction, which directs a quick determination of election-related cases.
Justice Mohammed, though adjourned the matter to November 12, said the order of accelerated hearing will take effect after the mandatory 30 days within which the respondents were to respond to the suit.
The judge, in the alternative, said the order of accelerated hearing could take effect earlier if the respondents are able to respond earlier.
The respondents are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Adoke (SAN).
They were not represented at Monday’s proceedings.
The suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/662/2014 was filed by Adejumo Mansouru Ajagbe (who claimed to be a member of the Peoples Democratic Party in Lagos State with membership card No: 9424103 and voter’s card: 90f5b23963295789969) and Olatoye Wahab (who claimed to be a member of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State with membership card no: 13951303, voter’s card: 18767722.)
The plaintiffs seek to restrain INEC and the AGF from allowing President Jonathan participate in the 2015 election on the ground that by the Constitution, the President having contested the presidential election twice, won and taken the oath of office and allegiance twice in respect of the same office, must no longer present himself for election to that office the third time.