Court Dismisses Application to Stop Buhari’s Inauguration

Ahead of May 29 inauguration of General Muhammadu Buhari, the President-elect of Nigeria, a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday dismissed the application seeking to stop the swearing-in ceremony that completes the journey and finally makes the General a President.
A suit had been filed on Tuesday by a non-governmental group known as Advocacy for Societal Rights Advancement and Development Initiative, seeking an injunction that would stop the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Mahmud Mohammed from swearing Buhari in on Friday as the constitution states.
However, following the absence of the Plaintiff, his Lawyer or any of their representatives to appear in court on Wednesday the initial date of the hearing, the application was adjourned till Thursday.
The hearing was held today Thursday at a Federal High Court in Abuja, and after listening to the plaintiff’s lawyer, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, dismissed the application stating that it was “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.”
Meanwhile, the process of Swearing-in and inauguration for Buhari has started in full force!
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