Court To Hear Fresh Suit Seeking Jonathan’s Disqualification On Feb 11

An Abuja Federal High Court on Tuesday fixed Feb. 11 for hearing in a fresh suit seeking to disqualify President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the Feb. 14 presidential election. The trial judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, fixed the date after listening to counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr Yusuf Alli (SAN) and Jonathan’s counsel, Mr Olatunji Salau.

The plaintiffs: Prof.Tunde Samuel, Dr Junaidu Mohammed, Mr Rasak Adeogun and Yahaya Ndu, in the originating summons, prayed the court to restrain Jonathan from contesting in the elections. The plaintiffs contended that Jonathan was ineligible for re-election ‎because to do otherwise was tantamount to allowing him spend more than eight years for anyone to serve as president.

They argued that Jonathan was constitutionally ineligible to seek re-election in 2015 because that would allow him to occupy the office of president for more than eight years.

The plaintiffs also urged the court to declare that it was unconstitutional for any person to occupy the office of president for more than a cumulative period of eight years. According to them, such a scenario can only happen when the country is at war‎.

They noted that in computing the period already spent in office as president by Jonathan, the period from 6th day of May, 2010 to 28th May 2011 should be reckoned with.

They, therefore, prayed the court to declare that having spent a period of more than four years in office from May 6, 2010, Jonathan is ineligible to contest for another term. Two similar cases are pending before the same court, while another is before the Court of Appeal for determination.