Court Imposes Fine Over Delayed Lawsuit Against Goodluck Jonathan
A Federal High Court in Abuja has imposed a fine of N1 million on attorney Johnmery Jideobi for causing delays in his lawsuit aimed at preventing former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting in the 2027 presidential election.
During the proceedings, Justice Peter Riff criticized both Jideobi and his counsel, Ndubuisi Ukpai, for their lack of diligence in advancing the case. The judgment noted that Jideobi’s actions, which allegedly stalled the legal process, were “unacceptable.”
Justice Riff highlighted the urgency of political cases in line with the court’s judicial policy, stating that plaintiffs had not sufficiently prosecuted actions initiated after October 6, 2025. He remarked on the importance of expeditious resolutions for political matters and offered judicial notice regarding the timeline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The judge mandated that the plaintiffs submit all relevant court documents to the INEC and the Federal Attorney General within two hours. He also ordered the second and third defendants to respond by 11 a.m. on May 18, 2026, and set a date for a comprehensive hearing on the merits of the case and all pending applications.
Despite the lawsuit being filed approximately six months ago, the court noted that the plaintiffs had yet to serve the first summons on INEC and the Attorney General. Justice Riff reminded the courtroom that Jonathan’s legal counsel had previously indicated that the former president was unaware of the lawsuit until he encountered media reports regarding it.
On May 11, the judge expressed his dissatisfaction that neither Jideobi nor Ukpai appeared in court, despite explicit attempts to schedule the matter for a 2 p.m. hearing. He also mentioned that Jonathan’s legal team had previously sought N5 million in costs, a request that the court ultimately denied to ensure a fair outcome.
Justice Riff emphasized that carelessness in legal proceedings should not go unpunished. He reiterated that the N1 million fine was awarded to the first defendant, serving as a reminder of the responsibilities that come with initiating legal action. In a turn of events, both Jideobi and Ukpai were absent when the case was first raised, prompting Jonathan’s attorney, Chief Chris Uche, to request its dismissal due to the plaintiffs’ repeated non-appearances.
Uche characterized the plaintiffs’ behavior as showing “absolute contempt and disrespect” towards the court, surprising that they would sue a former commander-in-chief and subsequently neglect the matter. He underscored that the sanctity of the court must be upheld and requested the court to dismiss the case as an abuse of the judicial process.
Additionally, AGF’s attorney, Ms. Esho, pointed out that although her office received Jonathan’s response to the lawsuit, the original proceedings submitted by the plaintiffs were never provided. The court registrar confirmed that while INEC had been notified of the hearing, it had not received the original summons.
Midway through the session, Ukpai entered the courtroom, apologizing for his tardiness due to a car breakdown, and reaffirmed his support for the plaintiff. Jideobi’s lawsuit essentially seeks a court order to prevent Jonathan from identifying as a candidate for any political party in the 2027 presidential election, inquiring into the constitutional eligibility of Jonathan under Articles 1(1), (2), (3) and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution.
