The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by three individuals seeking to stop the May 29 inauguration of President-elect Bola Tinubu, accusing him of supplying false information to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, about his age and citizenship status.
Justice James Omotosho, in the suit filed by Praise Isaiah, Paul Audu and Anongu Moses said the suit was frivolous and an abuse of court process adding that the plaintiffs lacked the locus standi to file the suit.
The court stressed that under section 285 (14) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, only an aspirant could challenge the qualification or nomination of a candidate in an election.
The ruling by Justice Omotosho came after the Supreme Court dismissed another suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, seeking to void the candidacy of Tinubu and the Vice-president elect, Kashim Shettima on double nomination.
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In the suit the plaintiffs told the court that the President-elect falsely declared that he was not a citizen of any other country, despite the fact that he was in possession of a Guinean Passport.
They argued that Tinubu’s action was in gross violation of Section 117 of the Criminal Code Act as well as Section 156 of the Penal Code Act.
Justice Omotosho said the court would not lend itself to be used as an instrument to destabilize the country.
The plaintiffs among other things, urged the court to order Tinubu to be arrested, detained and prevented from being sworn in, pending the determination of cases before the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal
Editor: Oloyede Oworu
