The Federal High Court, Abuja, has dismissed the suit filed by residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) demanding an order to stop the swearing-in of the then President-elect, Bola Tinubu, on May 29, for failing to secure at least 25 percent of votes cast in the FCT.

The suit was dismissed this morning, June 6, 2023 for lack of jurisdiction and locus standi, the cost of N20m was also awarded against the lawyer, Chucks Nwachukwu.

Additionally, the Court directed that the case file and all processes filed should be transmitted to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee for appropriate disciplinary actions against the lawyer.

The court added that no step should be taken on this matter by the Applicants until the cost awarded is fully paid.

Recall that residents of the Federal Capital Territory numbering about five had filed a suit at the Federal High Court, Abuja, demanding an order to stop the swearing-in of the Bola Tinubu.

Inyang Ekwo, the presiding judge, on Tuesday, ordered the lawyer representing the five residents to pay the sum of N10 million each to the attorney-general of the federation and the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

The plaintiffs had averred that Tinubu failed to secure at least 25 percent of votes cast in the FCT.

The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/578/2023 was filed on April 28.

The plaintiffs — Anyaegbunam Okoye, David Adzer, Jeffrey Ucheh Osang Paul and Chibuike Nwanchukwu — sued for themselves and on behalf of other residents and registered voters in the FCT.

They had asked the court to determine “whether or not the person who is to be elected president of the federal republic of Nigeria, and consequently administrator of the FCT through the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and the Federal Capital Territory Development Authority, on the first ballot is required by section 134(2)(b) of the Constitution to obtain at least 25% of the votes cast in the FCT”.

The plaintiffs also wanted a declaration extending former President Buhari’s tenure, while also asking the court to set aside the certificate of return issued to Tinubu and restrain the CJN and any other judicial officer from swearing him in.

Ruling on the case today, Ekwo held that the plaintiffs have no locus standi to file the suit.

The presiding judge said the suit can only be filed at the presidential election petition tribunal and not the federal high court.

LoyalNigerianLawyer