*Slams N20m fine against plaintiff
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has given former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan the go-ahead to run for the presidency again in 2027, if he so desires.
The Court gave the clearance to the former President while delivering judgment in a case filed by an Abuja-based lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi seeking an order stopping Goodluck Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party as candidate in the 2027 presidential election.
The plaintiff had also asked the court to bar the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting, processing, or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate.
He urged the court to determine whether, in line with Sections 1(1), (2), (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution, the former president remains eligible to seek the office again.
However, in his ruling on Tuesday, Justice Peter Lifu held that Jonathan is eligible and can participate in the 2027 presidential election.
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According to Lifu, the suit was a waste of the court’s precious time because both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal have already resolved the eligibility of Jonathan.
“I am bound by the above decision of the Court of Appeal and this court, I have no more to add”, Lifu said.
Meanwhile, he slammed a cost of N20 million against the plaintiff in favour of Jonathan and N1 million in favour of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Last week, a faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki had granted Jonathan a waiver and adopted him as its preferred presidential candidate.
