High Court fines lawyer N1 million for delays in Jonathan 2027 eligibility suit

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday fined lawyer Johnmary Jideobi N1 million for repeated delays in prosecuting a suit seeking to bar former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting Nigeria’s 2027 presidential election. Justice Peter Lifu, delivering the ruling, said the plaintiff’s conduct had stalled proceedings and described the approach as unacceptable, particularly in a case the judge characterized as having the nature of a political dispute that requires faster handling.

Alongside the fine, the court ordered Jideobi to serve all originating processes on the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Attorney-General of the Federation within two hours. The judge also directed the two agencies, listed as second and third defendants, to file and serve their responses, if any, before 11 a.m. on May 18, when the matter was adjourned for a definite hearing of the substantive application and pending motions.

The court noted that although the suit was filed on October 6, 2025, the originating summons had not yet been served on the electoral commission and the Attorney-General by the time of Friday’s sitting. The court said the absence of proper service had limited...