Appeal Court hears Jonathan’s eligibility case Thursday

The court had to adjourn the matter yesterday when INEC informed it that it had not been served with any of the court papers, although INEC had been represented in the Court since the case went on appeal.
In 2013, Mr. Cyriacus Njoku through his Lawyer – Chief Okoi Obono-Obla instituted an action in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja seeking a declaration that the tenure of office as President of Goodluck Jonathan, the 1st Defendant, began on May 6th, 2010 when his first term began and his two terms shall end on May 29, 2015 after taking his second Oath on May 29th, 2011.
He also asked for an order of injunction restraining Jonathan from further contesting or attempting to vie for the office of the President of Nigeria after May 29, 2015.
However, on March 13, 2013, the High Court of the FCT, Abuja presided by Justice Mudasiru N.  Oniyangi  (as he then was) delivered its judgment, dismissing the case but  holding that President Jonathan was free to contest the 2015 presidential election under the platform of the PDP.
On April 16, 2013, Njoku filed a notice of appeal seeking the Court of Appeal to set aside the judgment of Justice Oniyangi and in its stead grant all the reliefs sought by him.
While the appeal was pending, President Jonathan went ahead, collected the presidential nomination form of the PDP and declared his intention to contest the 2015 presidential election without awaiting the outcome of the appeal filed by Mr. Njoku.
Aggrieved by this development Barrister Obla, Njoku’s lawyer filed a motion seeking to nullify the PDP National Convention where Jonathan emerged as the party’s Presidential.
This motion was withdrawn yesterday and subsequently struck out, because the issue of Jonathan’s adoption was neither in court nor in the PDP.