“The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a court suit filed by five residents of the Federal Capital Territory, who sought to halt the inauguration of President Bola Tinubu on May 29.

The court ordered their legal representative, Chuks Nwachukwu, to pay a fine of N20 million for filing a frivolous suit. Justice Inyang Ekwo held that the plaintiffs lacked the locus standi to institute the action, and failed to disclose that the issue they raised in the suit was already a subject matter pending before the Presidential Election Petition Court.

He also criticized Nwachukwu for his unprofessional conduct in instigating the suit against Tinubu, and for engaging in litigation that was actually his personal case.

The court ordered Nwachukwu to pay the Attorney-General of the Federation and CJN the sum of N10m each as punitive cost, until the N20m fine is paid no further action should be taken in the matter, in the event that the litigants intend to go on appeal.

The court also directed that orders in the judgement should be served on the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, the AGF and the Nigerian Bar Association.