Posted by Amarachi on Thu 26th Oct, 2023 - tori.ng
This is coming after the Supreme Court failed to admit fresh evidence of a forgery case against President Bola Tinubu.
Bayo Onanuga
Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has asked Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to send a congratulatory message to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
This is coming after the Supreme Court failed to admit fresh evidence of a forgery case against President Bola Tinubu.
The court held that the Electoral Act prohibits the amendment of an election petition in such a manner, and hence, Atiku’s motion can’t be granted.
Justice John Okoro held that the time fixed for tendering of evidence has passed and cannot be extended. He added that the 180 days imposed for hearing of election petitions is immutable and cannot be extended.
According to him, the Supreme Court can not invoke section 22 of its act after the 180 days for the trial court to deliver judgment has lapsed.
In reading his judgement, Justice Okoro chose 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.
He highlighted the importance of ascertaining whether the nation’s law allows the court to accept fresh evidence at this stage of the petition.
In a post via X, Onanuga said it is over for Atiku following the court ruling on his ‘so-called’ new evidence against Tinubu.
He urged the former Vice President to write his long-delayed congratulatory message to Tinubu, his old-time friend.
He wrote: “Supreme Court has spoken: Atiku’s so-called new evidence runs foul of the Electoral Act and the constitution. It’s all over for the PDP presidential candidate.
“The Waziri should write his long delayed congratulatory message to his old friend.”