Tag: Supreme Court

  • It’s healing time, Onoh hails Tinubu’s Supreme court victory

    It’s healing time, Onoh hails Tinubu’s Supreme court victory

    President Bola Tinubu‘s ex-spokesman in the south east and former gubernatorial aspirant in Enugu state, Dr. Josef Onoh has asked Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi close ranks with President Bola Tinubu to commence the process of healing in Nigeria.

    Onoh’s urge is coming on heals of President Tinubu’s victory in the Supreme Court, which upheld the judgment of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) that Tinubu was the valid and duly elected President of Nigeria on the March 25 presidential election.

    Reacting to the judgment, Onoh said: “I hail and congratulate our President and our great party, the APC, on the Supreme Court victory. For Mr. President, it’s now time to work and also time to convenice Nigerians that there was no cabal that hijacked his presidency, rather he should remember what we went through in the hands of the past cabal that tried to frustrate his presidency reasons why we said “Never again.

    “It now time for Mr President to focus on governance, diligence in his appointments, time to unify our party,time to make amends, time to renew old bonds with true friends, time to heal old wounds, time to unite than divide and time to amend mistakes that have so far been made.

    Read Also: Supreme Court verdict: Justice has been served – Tinubu

    “This is time to be the President of a United Nigeria because there is no more legal distractions around him, Nigerians are suffering, Nigerians are crying, Nigerians our in search of hope. It’s time to go back on track to renew hope for Nigerians who are currently in a state of hopelessness.

    ” My utmost respect goes to H.E. Atiku Abubakar(Daddy Cool) irrespective of all the political shenanigans, his immense contribution to the development of our nation can never be taken for granted. We must give him immense credit for sustaining a good fight in defence of his aspiration, it takes a lot of courage, tenacity, dedication to walk on such thorny road.

    “History will be kind to him. I urge His Excellency to use his persistent energy to close ranks with President Tinubu, let’s come together to build the Nigeria of our dream. I also give immense credit and respect to H.E Peter Obi for his consistency in pursuit of his aspiration despite all discouraging odds staked against him. Peter Obi has forever changed the political landscape of Nigeria, inspired a new political movement in Nigeria who in defence of their mandate can be Obidently Disobedient, but irrespective of that, their impact was felt in the Nigerian political space and their voice heard loud and clear. I also urge His Excellency Peter Obi to come in the same way and reorient his Obidients to a unified progressive state of thinking that will be beneficial to all of us.

    “I also thank the Supreme Court judges that defiled all the intimidations, threats and harassments, to cast aside emotions and sentiments and delivered the judgement for history will be kind to them.

    “Like it or not, Asiwaju has come to stay like the rock of Gibraltar. If you love him, he will always be in your heart; you hate him, he will always be in your mind. What is constant is that he remains your President, but this is a time to restitute and heal Nigeria.

    “I have no regrets nor apology for Comments credited to my person during and after the campaign up till today’s Supreme court judgement in defence of my Principal and our President and if he were to run for office again in a next life I’ll do the same without regrets.”

  • JUST IN: Jubilation in Abuja as Supreme Court affirms Tinubu’s election

    JUST IN: Jubilation in Abuja as Supreme Court affirms Tinubu’s election

    Nigerians trooped out to the capital city of Abuja on Thursday to celebrate the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Supreme Court today.

    Many placard-carrying jubilant took over the stretch of road leading to the Supreme Court dancing and praising the judiciary for standing firm with the Nigerian people.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Supreme Court dismisses Obi’s appeal, affirms Tinubu’s election

    Various cultural troops were seen dancing along major roads around 3 Armed Zone, Eagle Square and the Federal Secretariat.

    Details Shortly:

  • BREAKING: Supreme Court dismisses Obi’s appeal, affirms Tinubu’s election

    BREAKING: Supreme Court dismisses Obi’s appeal, affirms Tinubu’s election

    The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal by Peter Obi and the Labour Party(LP) against the September 6 judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), affirming the election of President Bola Tinubu.

    In the lead judgment read by Justice John Okoro, which has been supported by the seven-man panel, the court argued that the issues in Obi’s appeal were similar to that of Atiku Abubakar which were already resolved.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Supreme Court determines Atiku’s motion to supply CSU materials

    The court upheld the judgment of the PEPC and proceeded to affirm Tinubu’s victory.

    Details shortly…

  • Presidential election: Supreme Court judgment sound, says Adegboruwa

    Presidential election: Supreme Court judgment sound, says Adegboruwa

    A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has hailed the Supreme Court’s judgment on Thursday, October 26, which upheld the Presidential Election victory of President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Adwgboruwa described the judgment as “sound in law”.

    The activist lawyer blamed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the vehement disputes among supporters of opposing presidential parties and their parties over the conduct of the election.

    He wondered why there is no provision for sanctioning INEC for failing to keep its pre-election promise to upload election results on the iREV, saying this was responsible to an extent for the loss of public confidence in the electoral process.

    Despite this failure, however, he echoed the apex court’s finding that such failure could not cause the election results to be nullified.

    Adegboruwa, in a statement, said: “The Supreme Court held that failure by INEC to upload election results on iREV leads to loss of public confidence in the electoral process.

    “The Court however held that such failure will not lead to the nullification of election results. The judgment is sound in law and accords with the relevant statutes on the issue.

    “What then is the penalty for the electoral umpire that failed Nigerians upon its own voluntary undertaking? Because INEC is still busy assuring Nigerians that future election results will be transmitted electronically.”

    The lawyer urged the National Assembly to amend the Electoral Act 2022 “to give us transparent elections. We cannot continue in this fashion.”

    He added: “Presently, INEC has continued to assure Nigerians that the off-cycle elections for Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi governorship elections will be conducted electronically and the results uploaded on the INEC iREV portal.

    “The use of technology is to prevent manipulation of election results. I urge INEC to help Nigeria by keeping to its guidelines and public statements and undertakings.”

    Adegboruwa also faulted the practice of political office holders and other public officers abandoning their duty posts to attend court sittings of their party members.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Supreme Court dismisses Atiku’s bid to file fresh evidence against Tinubu

    He said: “So many public officers attended court to listen to the judgment, leading to loss of manpower.

    “When a politician is appointed into a public office, he ceases to be partisan but becomes an officer of the federal republic.

    “Public officers abandoning their official duties to attend court proceedings in which they play no official role should be discouraged.

    “The National Assembly should set up a special committee to scrutinize the judgment of the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court for the purpose of amending the Electoral Act 2022.”

  • JUST IN: Supreme Court calls Obi’s appeal for judgment

    JUST IN: Supreme Court calls Obi’s appeal for judgment

    The Supreme Court has commenced proceedings in the appeal by Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) by calling it for the purpose of deliverying judgment.

    Lawyers are announcing appearance, following which the delivery of the judgment will beging with the lead judgment.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Supreme Court dismisses Atiku’s bid to file fresh evidence against Tinubu

    Details Shortly…

  • Supreme Court dismisses petition seeking to nullify Tinubu’s election over electronic transmission

    Supreme Court dismisses petition seeking to nullify Tinubu’s election over electronic transmission

    A petition seeking to nullify President Tinubu’s election over alleged non-compliance with the electronic transmission of results has been dismissed.

    A 35-ground of appeal filed by Atiku’s lead counsel, Chris Uche, SAN, faulted the tribunal’s ruling on electronic transmission of results, Tinubu’s qualification for the election, Federal Capital Territory votes, among others.

    He prayed the apex court to set aside the judgment of the lower court.

    Supreme Court in its ruling on Thursday stated that:

    Read Also: BREAKING: Supreme Court dismisses Atiku’s bid to file fresh evidence against Tinubu

    a. When IREV fails, it does not stop the collation of results.

    b. The non-function of IREV does not reduce voters’ confidence.

    On these grounds, Justice Okoro said the application is hereby dismissed and refused.

    Details Shortly…

  • JUST IN: 25% FCT votes not required to emerge President – Supreme Court

    JUST IN: 25% FCT votes not required to emerge President – Supreme Court

    The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld the Appeal Court’s ruling on 25 percent of votes in Abuja needed to win the presidential election.

    The Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal had declared that the Federal Capital Territory does not hold a higher status than other States in the country.

    Section 134 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) stipulates that a presidential candidate must attain or score a majority of votes cast in a presidential election, where two or more candidates are involved, and at least 25% in two-thirds of the 36 States and FCT to meet the constitutional requirement to be declared as duly elected as President of Nigeria.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Supreme Court dismisses Atiku’s bid to file fresh evidence against Tinubu

    Justice Okoro noted that scoring 25% of votes in the FCT is not a mandatory requirement for declaration of a candidate as the winner of presidential election.

    Details shortly… 

  • UPDATED: Supreme Court dismisses Atiku’s bid to file fresh evidence against Tinubu

    UPDATED: Supreme Court dismisses Atiku’s bid to file fresh evidence against Tinubu

    The application by Atiku Abubakar and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to present fresh evidence on the Chicago State University (CSU) diploma of President Tinubu has been dismissed by the Supreme Court.

    The deposition by the Registrar of the CSU, Caleb Westberg, was rejected and ruled inadmissible on the ground that the Supreme Court lacks jurisdiction because the 180 days timeline for determination of election petition had elapsed.

    Justice Okoro noted that since the time for trial at the Court of Appeal had elapsed, the Supreme Court cannot accept fresh evidence on appeal.

    He noted that Atiku’s attempt to introduce fresh evidence with a view to extend the time to adjudicate the case is unfortunate.

    Read Also: Supreme Court dismisses Atiku’s bid to file fresh evidence against Tinubu

    According to him, since the Presidential Election Petition Court has no jurisdiction to entertain fresh evidence, the Supreme Court has no jurisdiction to accept fresh evidence.

    He said it has to be noted that the 180 days imposed is immutable and cannot be extended.

    He said Atiku failed to convince the Supreme Court why he waited until the PEPC concluded the appellant’s suit.

    Justice Okoro said Atiku’s lawyers were tardy and not diligent in obtaining the documents from CSU.

    According to him, on this application, fresh evidence is not received as a matter of cause.

    After the expiration of the time limit by the Electoral Act, he said petitioner shall not be allowed to amend their petitions after the 21 days allowed by law.

    Citing section 182 of the Electoral Ect, Justice Okoro says Atiku failed to apply to the court to amend his petition to bring fresh evidence against Tinubu.

    He stated it is shocking to have Atiku’s argument in print knowing how election petitions have suffered delays in the past.

    Justice Okoro said it would be unfortunate to go back to the dark old days.

  • BREAKING: Supreme Court determines Atiku’s motion to supply CSU materials

    BREAKING: Supreme Court determines Atiku’s motion to supply CSU materials

    Justice John Okoro, who wrote the lead judgment in the appeal by Atiku Abubakar and the PDP, is currently reading the judgment.

    Justice Okoro has chosen to first determine the merit of the motion by Atiku and the PDP to supply fresh evidence in the form of documents obtained from the Chicago State University on President Bola Tinubu’s academic records.

    Read Also: Atiku, Obi versus Tinubu:  It’s judgment day today

    The judge said in determining the merit of the motion, the court will first ascertain whether the nation’s law, as at today, allows the court to accept this fresh evidence at this stage.

    Details shortly…