Delivering judgement on Tuesday, Justice Lifu also awarded a N20 million fine against Jideobi and in favour of the ex-president.
He also awarded a N1 million fine against the plaintiff and in favour of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
Justice Lifu held that Jideobi lacked the legal right to have instituted the suit, having not suffered any loss from his perceived Jonathan’s intention to vie for the next year’s poll.
The judge, who said that a Federal High Court in Yenagoa, and an Appeal Court had already held that Jonathan was eligible to run, said he was bound by the decision of the appellate court.
The judge then described the lawyer’s suit as ‘an abuse of court process’.
Justice Lifu also dismissed Jideobi’s motion seeking the judge’s withdrawal from the case for being frivolous.
Jideobi had sued Jonathan, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and AGF as the first to third defendants.
Jonathan first assumed power as President in 2010 after the death of his predecessor, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, with whom he had worked as Vice President.
A year later, he contested and won the 2011 presidential election. But in 2015, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.) of the All Progressives Congress defeated him, the first time an incumbent had lost a presidential election in Nigeria.
Since then, there have been calls on him to run in the 2027 polls even though the former president has moved away from partisan politics since his exit.
Despite calls for him to join the race, Jonathan recently told youths under the Coalition for Goodluck Jonathan that he would consult before deciding on the matter.
‘Yes, you are asking me to come and contest the next elections’, the former President told the group when members visited him in Abuja.
‘The presidential race is not a computer game, but I’ve heard you, and I’ll consult widely’.
