Bid to stop Buhari’s inauguration stalls

There was uncertainty surrounding the suit filed to stop the inauguration of Buhari as President on Tuesday, as neither the plaintiff, nor his lawyer showed up in court when the case was called for hearing on Wednesday.

The suit was filed before a Federal High Court in Abuja by ‎a non-governmental organisation, Advocacy for Societal Rights Advancement and Development Initiative

With an affidavit of urgency filed‎ along with the plaintiff’s application for interim injunction, ‎the matter was assigned to Justice Ahmed Mohammed, and was listed for hearing on Wednesday.

The matter was mentioned three times on Wednesday within intervals of two hours in between successive stand-down,‎ but no representative of the plaintiff or its lawyer who filed the suit on its behalf, Mr. Philip Ekpo, was present in court.

Though the application filed ‎by the plaintiff was an ex parte, Buhari was represented in court by a Senior Advocate of Nigerian, Lateef Fagbemi, who remained within the court promises until the court rose for the day.

Justice ‎Mohammed also disclosed that none of the court processes, including the originating summons had been filed on the respondents in the suit.

It could not be ascertained if a new date had been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

The plaintiff is seeking an order restraining the CJN from swearing in the Buhari on Friday, May 29.

The suit also seeks an order nullifying the certificate of return issued to Buhari by the INEC.

The plaintiff hinged the suit on the allegation that Buhari did not qualify to contest the Presidential election on the grounds that he gave false information about his academic qualification to INEC.

 

Ripples…without borders, without fears

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now