Supreme Court rejects Atiku’s bid to file new evidence against Tinubu
Supreme Court rejects Atiku’s bid to file new evidence against Tinubu
The Supreme Court has dismissed former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s application to submit fresh evidence against President Bola Tinubu, arguing that Tinubu submitted forged documents to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Atiku had asked the court to allow him to file the evidence obtained from Tinubu’s record at Chicago State University (CSU).
However, Tinubu objected, citing that Atiku made the plea outside the 180-day stipulated period.
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Justice Inyang Okoro ruled on Thursday, stating that the 180-day limit is fixed, and election petitions have their own peculiarities.
He said: “It has to be noted that the 180 days imposed is immutable and cannot be extended… Election petitions are sui generis and have their own peculiarities… the court below lost its jurisdiction to determine any matter concerning the petition after the 180 days which expired on September 17. This court cannot do what the lower court is no longer constitutionally allowed to do by section 285 of the constitution.
“No amendment can be made introducing new facts not contained in the election petition as stated in section 132(7) of the Electoral Act. This application clearly runs foul of the Electoral Act.”