Court Fines Plaintiff ₦1M Over Jonathan Eligibility Suit

The Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, imposed a fine of ₦1 million on plaintiff Johnmari Jideobi due to delays in prosecuting a suit that sought to prevent former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting in the 2027 presidential election. The case was filed on October 6, 2025, but Jideobi's legal representation, led by Ndubuisi Ukpai, was criticized for a lack of diligence.

Justice Lifu noted that the plaintiff failed to properly serve the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) with the original summons. The court highlighted that despite the suit being filed six months prior, the necessary processes were not completed.

The judge ordered that the plaintiff serve court processes to INEC and the AGF within two hours and adjourned the matter until May 18, 2026, for a substantive hearing. The court also expressed frustration over the plaintiff's absence and the failure to communicate reasons for delays.