A Federal High Court in Abuja has fined a plaintiff, Johnmary Jideobi, ₦1 million over delays in prosecuting a suit seeking to stop former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election.

Justice Peter Lifu, while ruling on Friday, criticised both the plaintiff and his lawyer, Ndubuisi Ukpai, for what he described as a lack of diligence in handling the case.

The court awarded the ₦1 million cost against Jideobi in favour of Jonathan, describing the repeated actions of the plaintiff and his counsel, which allegedly stalled proceedings, as unacceptable.

Justice Lifu noted that political cases required accelerated hearing in line with judicial policy and observed that the suit, filed on October 6, 2025, had not been properly prosecuted.

“As this court has earlier ruled and ordered, this case has a character of politics,” the judge said.

“The duty of this court is to ensure that political cases are given accelerated hearing and disposed of expeditiously.”

The judge subsequently ordered the plaintiff to serve all court processes on the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Attorney-General of the Federation within two hours.

He also directed the second and third defendants to file their responses before 11 am on May 18, 2026.

The matter was adjourned until May 18 for the hearing of the substantive suit and all pending applications.

The court observed that despite the suit being instituted about six months ago, the plaintiff had yet to serve INEC and the AGF with the originating summons.

Justice Lifu also recalled that counsel to Jonathan, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), had earlier informed the court that the former president only became aware of the suit through media reports before eventually being served.

The judge further noted that neither the plaintiff nor his lawyer appeared in court on May 11, despite requesting that the matter be fixed for a hearing at 2 pm.

Although Jonathan’s lawyer requested ₦5 million as cost, the court reduced the amount in the interest of a fair hearing.

“Today, it is crystal clear that the plaintiff did not serve the originating summons to the second and third defendants since October 6, 2025,” the judge stated.

“This case is for hearing today, and the hearing has been frustrated or aborted due to the tardiness of the plaintiff, who is a lawyer by training and calling.”

“Consequently, I hold that punishment should lie where the fault is. I hereby award the cost of ₦1 million against the plaintiff but in favour of the first defendant only.”

Earlier, neither Jideobi nor Ukpai was present in court when the matter was called.

However, counsel for Jonathan, Chris Uche, and the lawyer representing the AGF, J.D. Esho, were present.

Uche urged the court to dismiss the suit with substantial costs, accusing the plaintiff and his lawyer of showing “absolute disdain and disrespect” to the court through repeated absences.

“The plaintiff thinks he can hold the court and other parties to ransom and stay back in the comfort of his house and drag all of us to court,” Uche said.

“There must be a consequence for every action.”

Counsel to the AGF also informed the court that her office had not been served with the originating processes, despite receiving Jonathan’s response to the suit.

The court registrar equally confirmed that while INEC had been served with a hearing notice for Friday’s proceedings, the commission had not received the originating summons.

Ukpai later arrived in court and apologised for his lateness.

“My lord, I am sorry. I am for the plaintiff. Our vehicle broke down on the way,” he said.

Jideobi had filed the suit seeking an order restraining Jonathan from presenting himself as a candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

He also asked the court to stop INEC from accepting, processing, or publishing Jonathan’s name as a presidential candidate.

The plaintiff further requested the court to determine whether Jonathan remains eligible to contest for president again under Sections 1(1), (2), (3), and 137(3) of the 1999 Constitution.