• Court to hear matter against Ihedioha’s candidacy tomorrow

A FRESH attempt to stop the presidential ambition of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan was yesterday instituted at the Federal High Court, Abuja Division as four people namely Professor Tunde Samuel, Dr. Junaidu Mohammed, Mr. Rasak Adeogun and Yahaya Ezeemoo Ndu prayed it to restrain the President from contesting the February General elections.

    In an originating summons filed by Yusuf Ali (SAN), the plaintiffs argued that Jonathan was ineligible for re-election as allowing him spend more than eight years allowed for anyone to serve as president.

They prayed the court to declare that by virtue of the provisions of the constitution it was unconstitutional, unlawful, illegal and not permissible for any person to occupy the office of the president of Nigeria for more that a cumulative and aggregate period of eight years when the country was not at war.

They asked the court ‎to hold that having regards to the constitution, Jonathan was not eligible to seek re-election into the office of president for another term of your years from 2015, as that would have permitted him to occupy the office of president for more than eight years.

They also prayed the court to declare that in computing the period already spent in office as president by Jonathan, the period from 6th day of May 2010 to 28th May 2011 should be reckoned with.

Also, the Federal High Court, Abuja Division will tomorrow entertain arguments in the action instituted by Senator Ifeanyichukwu Araraume, challenging the nomination of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Chukwuemeka Ihedioha as the party’s standard bearer for the 2015 governorship election.

    The court fixed the date after hearing after setting out procedures that should be adopted in hearing the substantive suit and multiple applications pending before the court.

    After considering arguments of all parties on procedure, Justice Ahmed Mohammed ruled that all pending applications in suit would be heard alongside the substantive suit on the next adjourned date fixed for Thursday, February 5, 2015. 

    There are a plethora of interlocutory applications pending before the court including an application brought by representatives of all the delegates who voted for Ihedioha at the said primary election seeking to be joined as interested parties in the matter. The applicants were represented by Victor Assams, Mrs. Beatrice Nkwo and Godson Onyemaobi.

    Their counsel, Kalu Onuoha told the court that their right to fair hearing would be denied if they were not made parties to the suit as whatever decision reached by the court would affect their interest.

    Araraume’s counsel, Damien Dodo (SAN) prayed the court to consolidate all the processes filed in the matter including the preliminary objections and hear them together with the substantive suit so as to abridge the time to enhance quick dispensation of the matter.