A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, adjourned till February 8, 2022 hearing in a fresh suit filed against the election of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), in 2019.
The suit was filed by a former presidential candidate and British trained constitutional lawyer, Chief Ambrose Owuru, of the Hope Democratic Party, who is seeking an order of the court to declare the presidential seat vacant.
The case was put off from being heard due to lack of judicial time.
Although the suit was slated for hearing on Tuesday, Justice Inyang Ekwo, adjourned it to a new date due to the heavy workload of the court.
While shifting the case to next year for adjudication, the judge ordered that fresh hearing notice be issued and served on parties in the matter before the hearing date.
Apart from Buhari, other defendants in the suit with reference number FHC/ABJ/CS/480/2021 are the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Owuru had prayed for an order to declare the President’s seat vacant on the grounds that Buhari was not the winner of the February 16, 2019 election.
He asked the court to declare that Buhari was illegally occupying the presidential seat.
The plaintiff wants the court to declare him as the authentic winner of the poll and give an order for his immediate inauguration.
Owuru in the suit filed on June 16, 2021, claimed that he won the election and that his suit against Buhari at the Supreme Court was inconclusive due to errors on the adjourned date.
He is seeking a declaration that he is entitled to serve out the tenure of four years after his formal inauguration.
Among other reliefs, the ex-presidential candidate wants Buhari to be removed from office with immediate effect and also to be ordered to refund all salaries, allowances and emoluments he has so far collected while being unlawfully in office as President.
Owuru pleaded with the court to give order that salaries, allowances and emoluments be paid to him from May 29, 2019 when he ought to have been sworn in till date.
The plaintiff further applied for an order of perpetual injunction restraining Buhari, AGF and INEC from further organising and conducting any presidential election in 2023 so as to enable him to complete his four-year term when inaugurated.
Copyright PUNCH.
