Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday challenged a suit filed by a lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, seeking to restrain him from contesting the 2027 presidential election.

Mr Jonathan’s lawyer, Chris Uche, told Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, shortly after the matter was called for hearing that a letter of conditional appearance, a notice of preliminary objection, a counter affidavit and a written address had been filed on May 5, praying the court to dismiss the case.

He said they got information about the case through the media and hence the need to file their processes urgently going by the importance of the matter which boiled down to the eligibility of the former president to contest in the next election.

The senior lawyer said it was unfortunate that such a suit was filed by a lawyer who should know better, as this same matter had been decided by the Federal High Court up to the Court of Appeal.

Earlier, counsel to the plaintiff, Ndubuisi Ukpai, informed the court that the matter was for mention but that he was just being served with Mr Jonathan’s processes.

He said he would need more time to respond.

Mr Lifu adjourned the matter until May 11 at 2:00 p.m. for the hearing of the ex-president’s objection and the substantive suit.

The judge also ordered that hearing notices be issued and served on INEC and the attorney general of the federation, the second and third defendants in the matter.

A lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, had filed the case, asking the court to bar Mr Jonathan from contesting in the 2027 poll.

Citing constitutional grounds, Mr Jideobi urged the court to issue an order of perpetual injunction, restraining Mr Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party in the country for the purpose of contesting the presidential election again.

He also urged the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission from accepting Mr Jonathan’s name from any political party or publishing the same as a duly nominated candidate for the election.

Mr Jideobi, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, sued the former president as first defendant.

In the suit dated and filed on October 6, 2025, the lawyer joined INEC and the AGF as the second and third defendants, respectively.

(NAN)