Suit Against Inauguration: Tinubu floors FCT residents

•As court orders lawyer to pay N10m each to AGF, CJN 

Justice Inyang Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, July 6, 2023, dismissed the suit filed by five residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), seeking to stop the inauguration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President.

The judge equally directed the lawyer representing the five residents to pay the sum of N10 million each to the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

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

They had specifically argued that Tinubu failed to secure at least 25 per cent of votes cast in the FCT in the suit designated FHC/ABJ/CS/578/2023 which was filed on April 28.

The plaintiffs had asked the judge to determine “Whether 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 had also prayed the court for a declaration extending former President Buhari’s tenure, while also asking the court to set aside the Certificate of Return issued to President Tinubu and restrain the CJN and any other judicial officer from swearing him in.

In his ruling, the judge held that the plaintiffs have no locus standi to file the suit.

Justice Ekwo also declared that the suit can only be filed at the presidential election petition tribunal and not the Federal High Court.

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