SAN FRANCISCO, February 01, (THEWILL) – Justice Mojisola Olatoregun-Ishola of the Federal High Court in Lagos has struck out a suit by a group, the Union of Niger Delta Youth Organization for Equity, Justice and Good Governance, filed on behalf of the wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Patience, against the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
The plaintiffs had accused SERAP of using online, print and electronic media to publish unfounded and malicious allegations against Patience saying that she stole $15million and ought to be prosecuted.
The group prayed the court for an order of interim injunction restraining SERAP from taking further steps in further vilification, condemnation and conviction of Patience in all public media and in the use of the judicial process for that purpose by the extremely publicised pursuit of any application for the coercion of the Attorney General of the Federation to prosecute her for owning legitimate private property.
It said the campaign by SERAP was in breach of her right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty under Section 36(5) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended).
“The action by SERAP seeks to coerce the Attorney-General of the Federation to embark on a breach of the same right when the Attorney General is in a better position than SERAP and the Court to know whether or not there is any evidence of wrongdoing by Mrs Jonathan,” the group stated.
However, SERAP’s lawyer, Timothy Adewale, argued that the group was not registered and lacked the right to file the suit describing the case as a complete waste of our time.
In her ruling, Justice Olatoregun-Ishola awarded N25, 000 cost against the plaintiff and struck out the case.
