The Supreme Court has dismissed the suit seeking the disqualification of President MUHAMMADU BUHARI in the 2019 presidential election over an alleged act of perjury.

 

The appellants, KALU KALU, LABARAN ISMAIL and HASSY EL-KURIS had approached the Apex Court accusing President BUHARI of lying under oath in a form he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission for the 2019 election.

 

But delivering judgment at the Apex court, the Justice MARY ODILI-led panel of five justices held that the case was statute-barred and therefore dismissed. 

 

However, during the introduction of appearances, a member of the panel, Justice MUSA DATTIJOaccused President BUHARI of using ABDULLAHI ABUBAKAR, a senior counsel at the ministry of justice, for his private election-related matter.

 

The panel asked the lawyer if President BUHARI was sued as a private citizen or as president and he replied saying the president was being sued as a private citizen.

 

ODILI said ex-US President BILL CLINTON sponsored his own litigation personally, without involving the ministry of justice.

 

The court therefore faulted the use of taxpayers money to work on private litigation, describing it as a contravention of the provisions of the code of conduct for public officers.