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Johnmary Jideobi, the plaintiff in a lawsuit to prevent former President Goodluck Jonathan from running for president in 2027, was fined ₦1 million by a Federal High Court in Abuja for delaying the prosecution.
Justice Peter Lifu, while ruling on Friday, criticised both the plaintiff and his counsel, Ndubuisi Ukpai, for what he described as a lack of diligence in handling the matter.
The judge ordered that the ₦1 million cost be paid in favour of Jonathan, faulting repeated actions by the plaintiff and his lawyer, which, according to the court, delayed proceedings in the case.
Justice Lifu held that political matters required an accelerated hearing in line with judicial policy, noting that the suit, filed on October 6, 2025, had not been properly prosecuted.
According to the judge, the plaintiff failed to serve the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation with the originating summons despite the matter being in court for months.
The judge said, “I have carefully and painstakingly considered all the submissions and prayers of the learned counsel in this matter.
“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 court consequently directed the plaintiff to serve all pending court processes on INEC and the AGF within two hours, while ordering the defendants to file their responses before 11 a.m. on May 18, 2026.
The matter was thereafter adjourned to May 18 for hearing of the substantive suit and pending applications.
Justice Lifu also recalled that Jonathan’s counsel, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), had earlier informed the court that the former president only became aware of the suit through media reports before eventually being served.
The judge further noted that neither the plaintiff nor his lawyer appeared in court on May 11 despite personally requesting that the case be fixed for hearing that day.
Although Jonathan’s lawyer sought ₦5 million in costs, the court reduced the amount to ₦1 million in the interest of fair hearing.
According to the court, the plaintiff’s conduct amounted to tardiness and frustration of proceedings, adding that sanctions should follow where fault had been established.
“Today, it is crystal clear that the plaintiff did not serve the originating summons to the second and third defendants since October 6, 2025.
“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,” the judge stated.
Earlier in proceedings, counsel for Jonathan and the lawyer representing the AGF informed the court that the plaintiff had repeatedly failed to appear or to properly serve the necessary court documents.
Jonathan’s lawyer accused the plaintiff of showing disregard for the court process and argued that the suit had effectively been abandoned after being filed against a former president.
The plaintiff’s counsel later appeared in court and apologised for his lateness, explaining that his vehicle had broken down on the way to court.
Jideobi had instituted the suit seeking an order restraining Jonathan from presenting himself as a presidential candidate in 2027 and asking the court to stop INEC from accepting or publishing his candidature.
The plaintiff is also asking the court to determine whether Jonathan remains constitutionally eligible to contest for the office of president again under provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
