A Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday fixed January 21, 2019 to
hear a suit seeking to disqualify President Muhammadu Buhari from contesting the 2019 general elections.

Three plaintiffs namely, Mr. Kalu Agu, Labaran Ismail and Hassy
El-Kuris, had filed the suit alleging that the president lied in his
form CF 001 submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in respect of his educational qualifications and certificates.

When the matter came up for mention, counsel to the plaintiffs,
Barrister U. Ndubisi, who was holding brief for Barrister Okpai Ukiro, told the court that the matter was for mention, adding that all the defendants had been served with the processes.

The lawyer informed the court that following the service, the president filed an application seeking an extension of time as well as a preliminary objection to the originating summons.

Ndubuisi  prayed the court for some time to enable him respond to the
applications.
The suit which was filed on behalf of the plaintiffs by Ukiro has the president as the first defendant, APC as second defendant and INEC as the third defendant.

Specifically, the plaintiffs want the court to determine “whether
having regards to the information in the affidavit contained in
Buhari’s INEC form, CF 001 regarding his educational
qualification/certificate, he has submitted false information to INEC.

“Whether from the facts and exhibits contained in the affidavit in support of the originating summons and having regards to Section 31(5)(6) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, Buhari is disqualified from running for the office of president in the 2019 general
elections.

“Whether Buhari, having submitted false information to INEC, the APC
can validly present him as its candidate for the office of president
in the 2019 general elections.”
Upon the determination of the aforementioned questions, the plaintiffs
are also seeking a court declaration that the president submitted
false information on his educational qualifications to INEC to contest
elections into the office of President of Nigeria in the 2019 general
elections.

In addition, they also want the court to declare that the president is
not qualified from contesting elections into the office of president
in the 2019 elections, having submitted false information regarding
his educational qualification/certificate.
The plaintiffs also want the court to give an order directing INEC to
reject or remove Buhari’s name as the presidential candidate of the
APC for the 2019 general elections.

After listening to the plaintiffs’ counsel, the trial judge, Justice
Ahmed Mohammed, adjourned the matter until January 21, for hearing of the main suit and the preliminary objection.

The judge also ordered that hearing notices be served on the
president’s party, the APC.