Federal High Court Fixes January 21 For Suit Seeking President Buhari’s Disqualification From 2019 Election

Federal High Court Fixes January 21 For Suit Seeking President Buhari’s Disqualification From 2019 Election

A Federal High Court Abuja has fixed January 21, to hear a suit
seeking to disqualify President Buhari from contesting the 2019 general
elections.

The plaintiffs, Mr Kalu Agu, Labaran Ismail and Hassy El-Kuris,
allege that the president lied in his form CF 001 submitted to the
Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), regarding his
educational qualifications and certificates.

When the matter came up for mention today, U.C.Ndubisi, counsel to
the plaintiffs, who was holding brief for Mr Okpai Ukiro, informed the
court that the matter was for mention. Ndubisi told the court that all
the defendants had been served with the processes, and that the
president filed an application asking for an extension of time as well
as a preliminary objection to the originating summons.

He, therefore, prayed the court for some time to enable him respond
to the applications. The suit which was filed on behalf of the plaintiff
by Ukiro has the president as the first defendant, APC as second
defendant and INEC as the third defendant.

The plaintiffs want the court to determine “whether having regards to
the information in the affidavit contained in Buhari’s INEC form, CF
001 regarding his educational qualification/certificate, he has
submitted false information to INEC.

“Whether from the facts and exhibits contained in the affidavit in
support of the originating summons and having regards to Section
31(5)(6) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, Buhari is disqualified
from running for the office of president in the 2019 general elections.

“Whether Buhari, having submitted false information to INEC, the APC
can validly present him as its candidate for the office of president in
the 2019 general elections.”

Upon the determination of the aforementioned questions, the
plaintiffs seek a court declaration that the president submitted false
information regarding his educational qualification to INEC to contest
elections into the office of President of Nigeria in the 2019 general
elections.

The plaintiffs, in addition, want the court to declare that the
president, having submitted false information regarding his educational
qualification/certificate, is disqualified from contesting elections
into the office of president in the 2019 elections.

They also pray the court for an order directing INEC to reject or
remove Buhari’s name as the presidential candidate of the APC submitted
to INEC for the 2019 general elections. The trial judge, Justice Ahmed
Mohammed adjourned the matter until Jan. 21, for hearing of the main
suit and the preliminary objection. Mohammed also ordered that hearing
notices be served on APC and INEC