A’Court dismisses suit challenging Buhari’s electoral eligibility based on academic qualification

The Court of Appeal has dismissed a suit seeking to nullify the candidature of President Muhammadu Buhari on basis of his academic qualification.

A three-man panel of the court led by Justice Tinuade Akomolafe-Wilson, in a unanimous judgment, affirmed the earlier verdict of the Federal High Court in Abuja which had dismissed the suit filed by Kalu Kalu, Labaran Ismail and Hassy Kyari el-Kuris.

The federal high court had struck out the suit because “the matter was brought outside the specified period of time.”

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Justice Mohammed Idris, who read the judgment, held that the case was brought later than the stipulated period of 14 days when a pre-election matter ought to have been instituted.

“I have no doubt in my mind that the cause of action arose on October 18 when the documents said to be false that is the Curriculum Vitae and affidavit were submitted to INEC in form CF001,” Idris held.

The judge said “serious” attention has to be paid to when the cause of action arose.

Idris added that the court could not accord itself any jurisdiction outside that given to it by the law.

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