Court Fines Plaintiff N1M for Delaying Jonathan's Suit

On May 11, 2026, Justice Peter Lifu imposed a N1 million fine on plaintiff Jideobi for delaying the proceedings of a suit aimed at restraining former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting in the 2027 presidential elections. The suit, filed on October 6, 2025, sought to determine Jonathan's eligibility under specific sections of the 1999 Constitution and to prevent the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from accepting his candidacy.

Justice Lifu noted the plaintiff's failure to diligently prosecute the case and emphasized the need for political matters to be expedited in court. The judge ordered the plaintiff to serve court processes to INEC and the Attorney General of the Federation within two hours and scheduled a substantive hearing for May 18, 2026.

The court also highlighted that neither the plaintiff nor his lawyer appeared in court on the scheduled date, leading to the fine for the delays caused.