Buhari’s Eligibility Suit Adjourned to April 22

The palpable tension, generated by the suit challenging the eligibility of General Muhammadu Buhari, as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Saturday’s general election, slated for hearing on Wednesday, at the Federal High Court in Abuja was defused as hearing was adjourned till April 22 and 23.

The court, presided over by Justice Adeniyi Ademola, adjourned the matter, after he dismissed applications filed by three other persons, seeking to be joined in the suit as parties.

Ruling on the applications on Wednesday, he agreed with the submission of the plaintiff ’s lead counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), that the applicants were “meddlesome interlopers and busy-bodies”, who had no interest to protect in the suit.

Justice Ademola said: “It is the court’s opinion that the applicants are nothing more than meddlesome interlopers. Their applications are refused in its entirety. Suit adjourned till April 22 and 23 for hearing”.

The presiding judge had earlier fixed Wednesday for ruling, after hearing the submissions of counsel to two fresh parties, Olu- Ebun Adegboruwa and Chukwu Ochu, who sought to be joined as fourth and fifth defendants.

Adegboruwa, a pro-democracy activist, had hinged his application on the grounds that whatever might be the findings and decision of the court, would impact him, his family and the legal practice in the country.

Similarly, Ochu, an APC chieftain from Rivers State, argued that his sole aim of voting for Buhari in the presidential election would be affected if the party’s candidate was disqualified.

Ademola, had on Monday, delivered a short ruling, in which he decided to hear all the processes filed before him along with the substantive suit.

He gave the ruling after listening to the submissions of Ozekhome and Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), defendants’ lead counsel.

Mr. Chukwunweike Okafor, one of the plaintiffs in the seven suits now consolidated, was also seeking an order compelling INEC to disqualify Buhari from contesting in the March 28 polls.