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Court Rules On 25% FCT Suit Against Tinubu

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All Progressives Congress

The Federal High Court in Abuja has imposed penalties on five individuals residing in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for attempting to obstruct the inauguration of Bola Tinubu as the president, News About Nigeria reports.

Justice Inyang Ekwo, who presided over the case on Tuesday, rejected the lawsuit and directed the lawyer representing the residents to pay a penalty of N10 million individually to both the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN).

The plaintiffs, namely Anyaegbunam Okoye, David Adzer, Jeffrey Ucheh Osang Paul, and Chibuike Nwanchukwu, filed the lawsuit on behalf of themselves and other residents and registered voters in the FCT.

Their contention was that Tinubu did not manage to attain a minimum of 25 percent of the votes cast in the FCT.

The case, bearing reference FHC/ABJ/CS/578/2023, was submitted on April 28.

The plaintiffs sought the court’s clarification on whether the individual elected as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and, consequently, the administrator of the FCT, needed to obtain at least 25% of the votes cast in the FCT as mandated by section 134(2)(b) of the Constitution.

Additionally, the plaintiffs requested an extension of former President Buhari’s tenure and sought to invalidate the certificate of return issued to Tinubu.

They also urged the court to prevent the CJN and any other judicial officer from administering the oath of office to Tinubu.

Upon announcing the judgment, Justice Ekwo concluded that the plaintiffs did not possess the required legal standing (locus standi) to initiate the lawsuit.

The judge stated that such matters should be presented before the presidential election petition tribunal rather than the Federal High Court.

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