Court Fines Plaintiffs for Withdrawing Suit Against Jonathan's Eligibility

The quartet of Prof. Tunde Samuel, Dr. Junaidu Mohammed, Mr. Rasak Adeogun and Yahaya Ezeemoo Ndu who filed a suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge the eligibility of President Goodluck Jonathan to contest the March 28 election has withdrawn the case.
Following their decision to discontinue with the suit, Justice Ahmed Mohammed struck out the case.
The judge also awarded a cost of N 50, 000 against the plaintiffs because the President's lawyers had filed responses before they decided to withdraw the case.

Mr. Alex Akoja, who appeared in court on Wednesday for the plaintiffs, said the instruction to withdraw the suit and the notice of discontinuance were filed on February 4, a day after the court fixed Wednesday for the hearing of the suit.
President Jonathan’s counsel, Mr. Ade Okeanya-Inneh (SAN), did not oppose the application but asked for cost on the grounds that the calibre of six senior counsel, including Mallam Yusuf Ali (SAN), who filed the suit ought to have weighed the merit of the case before instituting it.
Meanwhile, there are two other cases bordering on the President's eligibility pending before Justice Mohammed.
The basis for the suits, including the one that was withdrawn is that Dr. Jonathan is ineligible to re-contest for the office of the President, arguing that allowing him to do so could amount to spending more than eight years allowed for anyone to serve in the office.

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