The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday rebuked a lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, and his counsel, Ndubuisi Ukpai, over what it described as a lack of diligence in prosecuting a suit seeking to stop former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
Justice Peter Lifu, who described the conduct of the plaintiff and his lawyer as “unacceptable,” awarded a ₦1m cost against Jideobi in favour of the former president.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Lifu said the plaintiff filed the suit on October 6, 2025, but failed to serve the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Attorney-General of the Federation, listed as the second and third defendants, respectively.
The judge said, “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.”
The judge said the court had taken judicial notice of INEC’s timetable and stressed the need for an accelerated hearing of political matters.
He subsequently ordered the plaintiff to serve all processes on INEC and the AGF within two hours.
Justice Lifu expressed surprise that neither the plaintiff nor his lawyer appeared in court on previous adjourned dates despite fixing the hearing at the instance of the plaintiff’s counsel.
The judge stated, “No doubt, cause follows event.
“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.”
The court then awarded a cost of ₦1m against the plaintiff in favour of Jonathan.
Jonathan’s Lawyer Seeks Dismissal
Earlier, counsel to the former president, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), urged the court to dismiss the suit over the plaintiff’s repeated absence.
Uche said the plaintiff and his lawyer had shown “absolute disdain and disrespect to the court.”
He said, “The plaintiff thinks he can hold the court and other parties to ransom and stay back in the comfort of his house and drag all of us to court.
“They think the courts are toothless bulldogs, and the dignity of the court must be protected, my lord.”
Midway into proceedings, Ukpai appeared in court and apologised for arriving late.
“My lord, I am sorry. I am for the plaintiff. Our vehicle broke down on the way,” he said.
After listening to all parties, Justice Lifu adjourned the matter until May 18 for the hearing of all pending applications and the substantive suit.