Court fixes hearing in suit seeking to disqualify President Buhari, Jan. 21

A Federal High Court Abuja has fixed Jan. 21, to hear a suit
seeking to disqualify President Muhammadu 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 on Wednesday, 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. (NAN)