The outgoing Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Auta, on Tuesday, said that the Judiciary rejected attempt to stop President Muhammadu Buhari from contesting in the 2015 Presidential election.

Justice Auta disclosed this during a court session to mark the beginning of the 2017/2018 Legal Year of the Federal High Court.

He said that the court withstood the pressure against Buhari contesting in the election, because everyone deserved a level playing ground.

The Justice said, “Despite all pressures to stop certain members of the National Assembly as a result of their abandonment of the party that brought them to power, the court insisted that every candidate must be allowed to test his/her popularity.

Secondly, the attempt to stop the President from contesting was also rejected by this court. This is because we in the Federal High Court preferred a level playing ground to all candidates.”

He went on to say that it was the insistence of the court that has kept the country together during and after the election, and urged Nigerians to pray for the good health of the President.

Auta, who will retire from active judicial service when he clocks 65 next week, also admonished judges not to allow any entreprise to obstruct the course of justice.

“I urge you to be the reason the common man would believe in the goodness of the system. Do not be worried about the social media and those that deliver judgment on the pages of newspaper,” he said.

Also, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubakar Malami, SAN, whose speech was delivered by the Solicitor-General of the Federation, Mr Dayo Apar, said that there was need for judges to be upright, fearless and considerate while discharging their duties.