Supreme Court to Decide Tinubu’s Fate in Fresh Disqualification Suit on Monday
The Supreme Court is set to rule on a fresh suit challenging the eligibility of President Bola Tinubu to hold office as Nigeria’s leader. The case, marked SC/CV/667/2023, will be heard on Monday, December 16, and seeks Tinubu’s removal based on two primary allegations: his disqualification for holding office and the alleged usurpation of the presidency against Nigerian law.
The suit was filed directly at the Supreme Court by Chief Ambrose Albert Owuru, a 2019 presidential candidate under the Hope Democratic Party (HDP). The defendants listed in the case are former President Muhammadu Buhari, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and President Bola Tinubu.
Owuru, a British-trained lawyer called to the Nigerian Bar in 1982, claims he won the 2019 presidential election but was denied the mandate, which he alleges was usurped by Buhari during his tenure. He also accuses Tinubu of forfeiting $460,000 to U.S. authorities over an alleged drug trafficking-related offense, which, according to him, disqualifies Tinubu from holding office.
Additionally, Owuru claims Tinubu served as an agent for the CIA, a position he argues violates the constitutional requirements for Nigeria’s presidency. In his prayers, Owuru seeks the court’s declaration of himself as the rightful winner of the 2019 election and calls for his immediate inauguration.
The Supreme Court has officially scheduled the case for hearing on Monday, December 16, 2024, as indicated in a notice signed by Ukor Michael Akan for the Chief Registrar. Tinubu has reportedly been served with the hearing notice through the Attorney General’s Office.
It is anticipated that Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, may represent Tinubu in the hearing. Notably, NewsGlobal recalls that the Court of Appeal previously imposed a fine of N40 million on Owuru for filing what was deemed a frivolous suit against Tinubu, INEC, and others. It remains unclear if Owuru settled the fine before filing this new suit.
The outcome of Monday’s proceedings will determine the next steps in this high-stakes
legal battle.
NGI 
NewsGlobal Reporters