October 19, (THEWILL) – The Supreme Court has fixed Monday, October 23, for hearing in an application filed by Atiku Abubakar, on the acceptance of fresh evidence of alleged certificate forgery against President Bola Tinubu.
THEWILL reports that the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), in a unanimous judgement delivered on September 6, upheld the declaration of Bola Tinubu, as winner of the February 25 presidential election. The five-member panel, led by Justice Haruna Tsammani, dismissed the three petitions challenging the victory of President Tinubu in the 2023 General Elections.
Dissatisfied with the judgement, Atiku, in his 35 grounds of appeal, filed on September 18, prayed the Supreme Court to set aside the judgement of the tribunal.
The former Vice President had also filed fresh and additional evidence to prove that Tinubu was not qualified to have contested the February 25 Presidential poll on grounds that he allegedly forged his Chicago State University (CSU) certificate he submitted to INEC.
Atiku had requested the Supreme Court to disregard technicality and allow him to present the additional evidence to support his claim that Tinubu submitted a forged document to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in order to contest the February 25 presidential election.
President Tinubu had in his objection to Atiku’s application for additional evidence to support the allegation of certificate forgery, argued that the issue of his qualification to contest the 2023 presidential election “is a pre-election matter”, and prayed the court to reject the application.
The former Vice President had argued that the presentation of forged documents by any candidate, especially one vying for the highest office in the country, is a serious constitutional issue that should not be encouraged.
In a memorandum issued on Thursday, the Supreme Court scheduled hearing in the application for Monday, October 23.
The hearing notice, signed by the Court registrar, Zainab M. Garba, dated October 19 2023, reads:
“Take notice that the appeal/motion will be listed for hearing before the Supreme Court of Nigeria sitting at Abuja on Monday, 23rd day of October 2023.
“And further take notice that in accordance with Order 2 Rule 1(2) of the Supreme Court Rules 1985, as amended, this notice is deemed sufficiently served on you if it is left at your address of service or sent by registered post and since the date if service by post is material, section 26 of the interpretation Act 1965 shall apply.”
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