Ahead of Friday’s inauguration of the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday dismissed an application seeking to stop the swearing-in ceremony.
A non-governmental organisation, Advocacy for Societal Rights Advancement and Development Initiative, had on Tuesday filed a suit as well as an ex parte application seeking an interim injunction restraining the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed from swearing Buhari in on Friday.
The application was adjourned till Thursday for hearing following the failure of the representative of the plaintiff or its lawyer, Mr. Philip Ekpo, to show up in court on Wednesday when the application was initially fixed for hearing.
After hearing the plaintiff’s lawyer on Thursday, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, dismissed the application for lacking in merit.
Justice Ahmed held, “The Presidential election in which the 1st defendant (Buhari) emerged winner took place on March 28, 2015; today is May 28. It is now two months after the election took place. Now, I sincerely ask, how can a court grant an interim injunction on the issue.
“Where was the plaintiff/applicant before and after the election? Is it that the applicant did not know about the Presidential election of March 28 or what?
“The inauguration of the 1st defendant will be held on Friday and the applicant is talking about urgency.
“This motion ex parte is a clear case of self induced urgency. Therefore this application is devoid of merit and accordingly dismissed.”
The judge adjourned the suit till June 24.