A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that former President Goodluck Jonathan remains eligible to contest the 2027 presidential election.
Delivering judgment on the matter, Justice Peter Lifu dismissed a suit filed by Abuja-based lawyer, Jideobi Johnmary, which sought to bar Jonathan from participating in any future presidential election on the grounds that he had taken the oath of office twice as president.
Justice Lifu held that the suit constituted an abuse of court process, noting that the issue of Jonathan’s eligibility had already been determined by both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal.
According to the judge, the case amounted to a waste of the court’s valuable time since the legal questions raised had been conclusively settled by higher courts.
“I am bound by the above decision of the Court of Appeal and this court. I have no more to add,” Justice Lifu stated while delivering the judgment.
The court consequently dismissed the suit and awarded costs against the plaintiff. Justice Lifu ordered Jideobi Johnmary to pay N20 million to former President Jonathan and an additional N1 million to the Attorney-General of the Federation.
The ruling effectively clears the way for Jonathan to seek elective office in the 2027 general elections, should he decide to do so.
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