ABUJA, Nigeria. A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, presided over by Justice Ahmed Mohammed, will on Wednesday, February 11, 2015, commence hearing on a matter brought before it by 4 plaintiffs, Prof.Tunde Samuel, Dr Junaidu Mohammed, Mr Rasak Adeogun and Yahaya Ndu, who are seeking an order of court disqualifying Goodluck Jonathan from contesting 2015 presidential elections that is scheduled to hold on February 14, 2015.
In the originating summons, the plaintiffs asked the court to stop Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2015 presidential elections contending that by virtue of the provisions of Sections 135 and 145 of the 1999 Constitution, Jonathan was not eligible to contest. Through their legal counsel, Yusuf Alli (SAN), the plaintiffs also argued that Jonathan is ineligible and should not contest; otherwise he will be spending over eight years in office as President of Nigeria. The plaintiffs prayed the court to take into account the period from May 6, 2010, when Goodluck Jonathan became President of Nigeria. They argued that having spent a period of over four years in office from May 6, 2010, Jonathan is ineligible to contest for presidential elections on February 14, 2015.
Hearing the matter on Tuesday, February 4, 2015, Hon Justice Justice Ahmed Mohammed struck out an ex parte application for substituted service filed by the plaintiffs after Jonathan’s legal counsel, Olatunji Salawu, submitted a request seeking to accept service on behalf of President.
This is the most recent matter in court concerning the eligibility of Goodluck Jonathan to seek the people’s mandate to rule Nigeria given ongoing cases on the same issue at the Appel Court.
