A Federal High Court in Abuja has imposed a N1 million fine on Johnmary Jideobi, the plaintiff seeking to stop former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election, over delays in prosecuting the case.
Justice Peter Lifu, who ruled on the matter on Friday, criticised both the plaintiff and his counsel, Ndubuisi Ukpai, for what he described as a lack of seriousness and diligence in handling the suit.
The court awarded the costs in favour of Jonathan and condemned the repeated actions of the plaintiff and his lawyer, which it said had frustrated proceedings.
In his ruling, Justice Lifu stressed that political matters require speedy determination in line with judicial policy and referenced INEC’s election timetable in justifying the need for an accelerated hearing.
“I have carefully and painstakingly considered all the submissions and prayers of the learned counsel in this matter,” the judge said.
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“As this court has earlier ruled and ordered, this case has a character of politics.
“I have taken judicial notice of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s timetable.
“The duty of this court is to ensure that political cases are given accelerated hearing and disposed of expeditiously.”
The judge subsequently directed the plaintiff to serve all relevant court documents on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) within two hours.
He also ordered the second and third defendants to file their responses before 11 a.m. on May 18, 2026, and adjourned the case to the same date for the hearing of the substantive suit and all pending applications.
The court observed that despite filing the suit on October 6, 2025, the plaintiff had failed to serve INEC and the AGF with the originating summons.
Justice Lifu further recalled that Jonathan’s lawyer, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), had earlier informed the court that the former president only learned about the case through media reports before eventually being served.
The judge also faulted the absence of both the plaintiff and his lawyer during earlier proceedings on May 11, despite personally requesting the hearing date.
Although Jonathan’s counsel sought N5 million in damages, the court reduced the amount in the interest of fairness.
“Today, it is crystal clear that the plaintiff did not serve the originating summons to the second and third defendants since October 6, 2025,” the judge stated.
“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.
“I hereby award the cost of N1 million against the plaintiff but in favour of the first defendant only.”
Earlier in the proceedings, neither Jideobi nor Ukpai was initially present in court, while counsel for Jonathan, Chris Uche, and the AGF’s lawyer, J.D. Esho, were in attendance.
Uche urged the court to dismiss the case outright and accused the plaintiff of disrespecting the judiciary through repeated absences.
“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,” he said.