The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday effectively blocked an attempt to stop Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from contesting the presidential election holding on Saturday, March 28.
Justice Adeniyi Ademola adjourned the case seeking to bar the former military until April 22, leaving Buhari free to stand against President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The petition, filed Chukwudiake Okafor and Donald Daunamigba, was argued by Mike Ozekhome (SAN).
It sought to disqualify Buhari on the grounds that he had forged his secondary school certificate, a charge the ruling PDP has widely publicised and which is seen more as a smear campaign than a serious accusation.
“They are interlopers and busy bodies who want to waste the time of this court,” Justice Ademola said of the plaintiffs who brought the petition.
Responding to the adjournment, Buhari’s lawyer, Akin Olujinmi, said he was “absolutely happy” with the court decision as it removed the air of uncertainty and “pressure” on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) with the election just three days away.
Ozekhome, however, warned Buhari’s supporters against celebrating prematurely as the High Court could overturn Saturday’s result if it finds Buhari lacked the requisite qualifications.
“In the event, for example, Buhari wins the election, all it simply means is that, when eventually we finish this case and the court found that he was not qualified… the court will simply dethrone him,” Ozekhome told reporters.
