The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in the appeal by Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against the earlier judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Court which affirmed the victory of President Bola Tinubu in the February 25, 2023 presidential election.
The apex Court also reserved judgment in the appeal filed by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, against the tribunal’s judgment affirming President Bola Tinubu’s election.
The seven-man panel led by John Inyang Okoro after listening to the submissions of the parties involved in the matter said the judgment date would be communicated to them – Tinubu, Atiku and Obi.
Justices: Uwani Aji, Mohammed Garba, Ibrahim Saulawa, Adamu Jauro, Abubakar Tijjani, and Emmanuel Agim are other members of the panel hearing the two appeals.
The Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, urged the Supreme Court to admit fresh documents against President Bola Tinubu.
Atiku who spoke through his lead counsel, Chris Uche, SAN, described the matter as a grave and constitutional matter.
He urged the court to adopt the application and grant their request.
“The issue involving Mr Tinubu’s certificate is a weighty, grave, and constitutional one, which the Supreme Court should admit. I urge the court to admit the fresh evidence of President Tinubu’s academic records from CSU presented by Atiku.
“The Supreme Court must take a look at Mr Tinubu’s records and reach a decision devoid of technicality,” he posited.
INEC lawyer, Abubakar Mahmoud, urged the Supreme Court to dismiss Atiku’s application seeking to present Tinubu’s academic records.
Also, Tinubu’s lead counsel, Wole Olanipekun, SAN argued that INEC should have been a party at the deposition proceedings in the US, noting that the CSU depositions are dormant until the deponent comes to court and testify.
On Obi, in adopting his addresses, the LP candidate’s lead counsel, Livy Uzoukwu urged the court to hear the appeal.
But the INEC lawyer, Mahmoud, in his submissions urged the court to dismiss the appeal, saying that it is devoid of merit.
Tinubu’s lawyer, Wole Olanipekun, and his APC counterpart, Akin Olujinmi adopted their addresses and urged the court to dismiss Obi’s appeal.
The panel led by Okoro said, “This appeal is reserved for judgment until a date to be communicated to the parties.”
However, the Supreme Court wasted no time on the appeal filed by the Allied People’s Movement (APM) appeal when it reconvened.
The Supreme Court urged APM urged to withdraw its appeal as it lacked prayers for determination.
Counsel for the APM, Machukwu Umeh, subsequently withdrew his appeal.
