The Federal High Court in Abuja has cautioned lawyers handling a suit seeking to stop President Bola Ahmed Tinubu from contesting the 2027 presidential election against taking arguments from the courtroom to the public space.
Justice Inyang Ekwo issued the warning on Tuesday.
Judge Ekwo gave the warning while hearing preliminary issues in a suit brought by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The judge warned that lawyers could face serious consequences if they discussed the case on social media or other media platforms.
“This case is to be conducted in court and not in the media, whether it is regular or social,” Ekwo said.
He added, “If this case is discussed on social media, I will hold counsel for the party responsible, and I will take very drastic action.”
The warning came as the parties returned to court over a suit that seeks to stop Tinubu from contesting the 2027 presidential election on allegations surrounding an NYSC discharge certificate.
Rather than proceeding into the substance of the allegations, the court was confronted with an unresolved question over whether Tinubu had been properly served with the originating processes.
Joseph Onu, representing Atiku and the ADC, told the court that the plaintiffs had not succeeded in personally serving the President.
The lawyer said his clients were insisting on personal service because of the importance of the proceedings, while also indicating that they could accept service through Tinubu’s counsel if the necessary undertaking was provided.
“My lord, this is a very important case, and we do not want to leave any chance for a technicality. We do not want to fall into any trap,” Onu said.
He added, “But if we have a written undertaking from the 1st defendant to be served through counsel, we will accept.”
Tinubu’s lawyer, Omosanya Popoola, was present in court and announced his appearance for the President.
The issue of service also drew a response from INEC’s counsel, Alex Iziyon, who argued that there was no need for the plaintiffs to insist on personally serving Tinubu after his lawyer had appeared in court.
Iziyon urged the court to allow the case to progress, pointing out that more than 17 days had passed since the action was instituted.
He said INEC was prepared to respond to the case and could file its defence within 10 days.
Justice Ekwo, however, said he could not dictate to the plaintiffs how they should conduct their case. The judge fixed September 28 for another mention of the matter.
The case is registered as FHC/ABJ/CS/1888/2026 and has Tinubu, the APC and INEC as defendants.
Atiku and the ADC’s challenge is based on an alleged discrepancy involving the name on an NYSC certificate attributed to Tinubu. The plaintiffs contend that the document submitted to INEC bears the name “Tinubu Bola Adekunle”.
They argue that the name differs from “Bola Ahmed Tinubu”, the name by which the President is publicly and officially identified.
The plaintiffs are invoking Section 137(1)(j) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which provides grounds for disqualification where a candidate presents a forged certificate to INEC.
They are asking the court to make a declaration concerning the alleged certificate and to disqualify Tinubu from the 2027 presidential contest. The APC is also named in the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs.
The allegation remains a matter for determination by the court, and the latest proceedings did not establish that the certificate was forged or that Tinubu is disqualified from contesting the election.
The lawsuit comes as political activities ahead of the 2027 election intensify. Tinubu is seeking re-election under the APC, while Atiku is pursuing his presidential ambition under the ADC.
