Dane Patience Jonathan Dragged To Court

Following her decision to host the African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM) summit in Abuja on Friday, May 15 instead of the scheduled June date, Nigeria's First lady Patience Jonathan has been dragged to court.

The plaintiffs whose suit was submitted at a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, asked to restrain Dame Patience Jonathan from holding the emergency meeting.

The plaintiffs said the meeting organised by the incumbent first lady was intended to scuttle any chances of first lady-elect, Aisha Buhari becoming president of the mission.

The plaintiffs include Nana Module Onwodi, Ekemma Ugborough Arisa, Louisa Ono Eikhomun, Deborah Oboh, Juliet Mene, Juliet Pearce, Sonia Adolf and Kate Duru.

The court will be sitting today to hear the application to stop the meeting.

The case would have been heard yesterday but was moved to today, Thursday because the procedure for proof of service had not been completed.

The plaintiffs were appearing on behalf of Concerned Women for Peace and Development.

The prosecutors argued that explained that the Patience has become president of the AFLPM after Turai Yar’Adua stepped down following the death of her husband and then president, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

The plaintiffs argued that the tenure of office of President of the Mission is three years, which is expected to elapse in July 2015.

They said an attempt by Patience Jonathan to convene a peace meeting summit would short-change the right of Mrs. Buhari to participate and even contest the office of president in July 2015.

Aisha Buhari will be sworn in as first-lady on May 29 which is the handover date.

The plaintiffs argued that “the defendant/respondent’s intention to hold an election on May 2015 is inimical to the progress and development of the country” as “not only shall we be affected as individuals but the entire nation will be affected as our position in the committee of African nation’s will be relegated”.

Meanwhile Patience Jonathan has revealed that her intention for hosting the African First Ladies’ Peace Mission is not to deny the ’First Lady-elect’ Aisha Buhari, the chance to become the president of the mission but rather to conduct elections to appoint a new president.