Atiku Vs Tinubu: Supreme Court Reserves Judgement

The seven-member panel of the Supreme Court led by Justice John Okoro, SAN, has reserved judgment on the appeal of Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP after hearing the arguments of the Counsels.

The panel which includes; Uwani Abba-Aji SAN, Lawal Garba SAN,  Ibrahim Saulawa SAN, Adamu Jairo SAN, Tijjjani Abubakar SAN, and Emmanuel Agim SAN said a date would be communicated to lawyers when the judgement is ready.

Meanwhile, the APM has withdrawn its appeal challenging President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s victory after the Supreme Court chastised APM’s counsel for bringing a frivolous appeal on an issue already decided by the Supreme Court.

Atiku’s counsel Uche SAN prayed for an order of leave to present fresh evidence on appeal based on the deposition on oath from Chicago State University. He said the application is predicated on 20 grounds and an affidavit of 20 paragraphs.

He reminded the Supreme Court that it must take a look at Mr Tinubu’s records and reach a decision devoid of technicality.

In response, Okoro SAN inquired whether the Electoral Act 2022 or the Constitution be looked into and Justice Agim stated that the CSU did not issue any letter discrediting Mr Tinubu’s certificate

“We are dealing with a matter that touches on the national unity of Nigeria.”

However, the counsel of the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, Abubakar Mahmoud SAN, asked the Supreme Court to dismiss Atiku’s application seeking to tender Mr Tinubu’s academic records.

Tinubu’s counsel Wole Olanipekun SAN, appealed to the Supreme Court to “dismiss this very unusual application” seeking to tender fresh evidence against Mr Tinubu.

Justice Okoro made it clear that two conflicting letters were sent from CSU, while one authenticates Tinubu’s certificates, the other discredited it.