A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by lawyer Johnmary Jideobi seeking to stop former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice Peter Lifu described the suit as frivolous and an abuse of court process.
The court awarded a cost of N20 million against the plaintiff in favour of Jonathan and an additional N1 million to be paid to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), who was listed as the second defendant.
Justice Lifu held that Jideobi lacked the locus standi — the legal right required to institute the case — because he failed to show any personal injury or loss arising from Jonathan’s alleged intention to contest the election.
The judge further noted that both the Federal High Court in Yenagoa and the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal had previously ruled that Jonathan remains eligible to contest for president. According to the court, those decisions are binding.
Justice Lifu subsequently struck out the suit, describing it as “an abuse of court process.”
The court also dismissed Jideobi’s separate application seeking the judge’s withdrawal from the case, ruling that the request was frivolous.
