Supreme Court Reserves Judgment on Atiku’s Request for New Evidence

The Supreme Court, on Monday, reserved judgment on the application of the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, to present fresh documents to support his appeal.

The fresh documents are President Tinubu Bola’s academic records obtained from the Chicago State University.

Speaking at the court on Monday, 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.

INEC lawyer, Abubakar Mahmoud, urged the Supreme Court to dismiss Atiku’s application seeking to present Tinubu’s academic records.

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.

All the arguments occured earlier today as the Supreme Court commeneced hearing on the appeal by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and Allied Peoples Movement (APM), seeking the nullification of President Bola Tinubu’s election.

The panel of seven justices is led by Justice Inyang Okoro. Others are Justice Helen Ogunwumiju, Justice Ibrahim Saulawa, Justice Adamu Jauro, Justice Tijani Abubakar, Justice Emmanuel Agim and Justice Lawal Garba.

Meanwhile the Allied People’s Movement (APM) has withdrawn its appeal at the Supreme Court, challenging the election of President Bola Tinubu.

The appeal was withdrawn by APM counsel Chukwuma Umeh on Monday.

The APM’s petition was primarily based on the argument that Tinubu contested the presidential election without a lawful running mate.

The party also argued that the withdrawal of Ibrahim Kabir Masari, Tinubu’s original running mate, and the expiry of the deadline for changing or withdrawing candidates made Tinubu’s election invalid.