One of the highest courts in Nigeria has declined to rule in two cases challenging the sole candidacy of the military leader, Sani Abacha, in the forthcoming presidential poll.

The federal Court of Appeal ,which was assigned the role of constitutional court by a military decree,said it had no jurisdiction to determine the cases.

They were filed by two prospective candidates for nomination by the Grassroots Democratic Party, M.D. Yusuf and Tunji Braithwaite, who lost to General Abacha at a party convention in April.

Mr Braithwaite was quoted as saying that he would take the case to the Supreme Court.