Supreme Court Dismisses Atiku’s Application to File Fresh Evidence

The Security at Supreme Court was tight as it delivers judgment on election appeals by PDP and LP against President Tinubu.

Despite the absence of armoured personnel carriers (APCs), there was a heavy presence of armed security personnel.

There’s however a security check by a mobile security body scanner mounted at the entrance of the court building that everyone has to pass through.

No one without a clearance tag was allowed into the court building.

Justice John Okoro, who wrote the lead judgment in the appeal by Atiku Abubakar and the PDP, first determine the merit of the motion by Atiku to supply fresh evidence in the form of documents obtained from the Chicago State University on President Bola Tinubu’s academic records.

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

Subsequently, the panel of Justices agreed that 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 cannot be entertained.

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

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