…Grants Motion To Serve Atiku Via Substituted Means Over Claim Of Citizenship

A Federal High Court in Abuja Tuesday granted a motion exparte
to serve former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, through substituted
means in a suit filed against him alleging that he was not a
citizen of Nigeria.

The suit with motion number FHA/ABJ/CS/177/2019 which was filed
on behalf of Incorporated Trustee of Egalitarian Mission for Africa
was filed by Mr. Kayode Ajulo, a Human Rights lawyer based in
Abuja.

The suit is challenging the eligibility of Atiku to contest the
2019 Presidential election on the ground that he was not a citizen
of Nigeria but that of Cameroon.

The suit has among the defendants the PDP, the Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney General of
the Federation (AGF).

Justice Iyang Ekwo granted the motion exparte following the
prayer of the plaintiff counsel, Mr. Akinola Oladimeji, that all
means to serve the defendant, the originating motion proved
abortive.

He said the motion exparte before the court is brought in
pursuant to Order 6, rule 5 of the federal high court.

Oladimeji said that the motion exparte was supported by 11
paragraphs affidavit and a written address, prayed the court to do
justice to the suit.

The judge, however, adjourned the suit until April 4, for
mention.