Court Delivers Verdict on Suit Seeking Extension of Buhari’s Tenure

The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking an extension of former President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure. The suit, filed by the Justice Initiative for the Disadvantaged and Oppressed Persons and Lawman Nzenwa, was dismissed by Justice Inyang Ekwo.

Justice Ekwo noted that the plaintiffs were absent from court despite previous orders for them to be served with a hearing notice. The judge expressed surprise at their absence and stated that their request for an extension of Buhari’s tenure was unconstitutional and could not be granted…….Continue Reading

Consequently, since the plaintiffs and their lawyer were not present, the judge dismissed the suit. The plaintiffs had initially filed the suit on May 12, naming Buhari, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Inspector-General of Police, Bola Tinubu, Sen. Kashim Shettima, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Peter Obi, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Senate President, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives as defendants.

The plaintiffs sought an order to extend Buhari’s tenure until the resolution of the presidential election petition. They also requested that the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives pass a resolution extending Buhari’s tenure based on the principle of necessity. Additionally, they asked for an order preventing Buhari from handing over the presidency to Tinubu and Shettima until the election petitions were fully resolved.

With the dismissal of the suit, the court has affirmed that Buhari’s tenure will not be extended beyond its stipulated end date.