The opposition All Progressives Congress and its presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari, are challenging the order of substituted service granted by Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
Justice Ademola had granted ex-parte orders permitting the plaintiffs in two separate suits challenging Buhari’s eligibility, to serve him through newspaper publications.
In the two suits filed by Chukwunweike Okafor and Max Ozoaka, who were represented in court by their lawyers on Monday, the court also granted an order of abridgment of time within which the defendants must respond to the suits.
Max Ozoaka is praying the High Court to make a pronouncement on the eligibility of General Muhammadu Buhari on the allegation that he lied that he obtained the West African School Certificate and the said certificate was in the custody of the Nigerian Army, which later denied the claims.
But, Buhari through his counsel, Wole Olanipekun, is challenging the order on the grounds that Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has postponed the elections hence; there is no urgency to warrant a substituted service.
He is also filing a preliminary objection to the suits challenging his eligibility to contest the election.
Both Buhari and the APC through their lawyers– Wole Olanipekun and Lateef Fagbemi respectively appealed to the court for an adjournment to enable them file all the necessary documents.
Justice Ademola, having listened to both parties adjourned to February 23, for all parties to file the necessary processes in court with regards to the suit.
