Fresh Evidence: Supreme Court Dismisses Atiku’s Motion

The Supreme Court has dismissed the motion filed by former Vice President and Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

Atiku had sought leave of the court to file fresh evidence in his appeal against the victory of President Bola Tinubu in the February 25 presidential election.

In his motion, Atiku requested the apex court to grant him permission to introduce additional evidence in the form of depositions on oath from the Chicago State University.

These depositions aimed to disclaim the certificate presented by President Bola Tinubu to the Independent National Electoral Commission.

The 7-Man Panel of Justices, led by Justice Inyang Okoro, who ruled on the motion, held that the apex court lacked jurisdiction to allow the filing of fresh evidence that was not previously pleaded at the Presidential Election Petitions Court.

Justice Okoro further stated that Atiku should have sought an amendment of his pleadings and an extension of time, as the 180-day period allowed by the Constitution had already elapsed since the 17th of last month.

The justices are still deliberating on the main appeals challenging the victory of Bola Tinubu in the February 25 presidential election.

Security beefed up ahead of Supreme Court ruling

Earlier, there was heavy presence of security personnel around the Supreme Court, venue of the final judgment on the 2023 presidential election.

From the Supreme Court junction down to the main auditorium, combined security personnel, including the Police and the Department of State Security (DSS), manned the sections and only allowed duly accredited personalities and journalists entrance into the courtroom.

Dignitaries such as the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, President Tinubu’s son, Seyi Tinubu, the Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, the Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje, and the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike, have arrived at the apex court.