2015 poll fiasco: Court okays amicable settlement

[TheNation]

  President Jonathan  An Abuja High Court on Wednesday granted leave to an aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party member, Mr. Cyracus Njoku, to explore modalities for out of court settlement.

The News Agency of Nigeria recalls that Njoku filed a suit against President Goodluck Jonathan, PDP and Independent National Electoral Commission, seeking to stop Jonathan from contesting the 2015 presidential race on the ground that he was already serving his second term in office.

Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi granted the leave after Counsel to the plaintiff, Mr. Oscars Ugochukwu, informed the court that his client had been approached by ``some powerful'' members of the party for an out of court settlement.

Oniyangi, in granting the leave, adjourned hearing in the suit till May 30 for a report on the progress so far made to settle the matter.

Njoku from Cuba Ward in Zuba, Abuja Municipal Area Council, in the suit, urged the court to declare that Jonathan could not swear to an oath thrice in the light of Section 137(1) (b) of the Constitution.

He also wants the court to declare that the president’s tenure of office began on May 6, 2010, and that his two terms shall end on May 29, 2015 having taken his second oath of office on May 29, 2011.

The plaintiff, in addition urged the court to declare that by virtue of Section 136 (1) (b) of the Constitution, no person (including Jonathan) shall take the oath of allegiance and the oath of office prescribed in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution more than twice.



TheNation