The Supreme Court has 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 7-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. Other members of the panel are Uwani Aji, Mohammed Garba, Ibrahim Saulawa, Adamu Jauro, Abubakar Tijjani, and Emmanuel Agim.
Adopting his addresses, Obi’s lead counsel, Livy Uzoukwu urged the court to hear the appeal. INEC lawyer, Mahmoud, while making his submissions urged the court to dismiss the appeal, adding that it lacked merit.
Adopting their addresses, Tinubu’s lawyer, Wole Olanipekun, and his APC counterpart, Akin Olujinmi 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.”
Earlier, the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, urged the Supreme Court to admit fresh documents against President Bola Tinubu. Speaking at the court on Monday, his lead counsel, Chris Uche, SAN, described the matter as a grave and constitutional matter, The Punch reports. He urged the court to adopt the application and grant their request.
Presenting his argument, he said, “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. 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.
