Supreme Court, on Monday, reserved judgment in the appeal filed by the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, against the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal’s judgment affirming President Bola Tinubu’s election.
The seven-man panel of the apex court led by John Inyang Okoro, after listening to the submissions of the parties involved in the matter, said the judgment date would be communicated to them.
Other members of the panel are Uwani Aji, Mohammed Garba, Ibrahim Saulawa, Adamu Jauro, Abubakar Tijjani, and Emmanuel Agim.
Adopting his addresses, Obi’s lead counsel, Livy Uzoukwu urged the court to hear the appeal.
But INEC lawyer, Mahmoud, while making his submissions, urged the court to dismiss the appeal.
He said the appeal lacked merit.
Also while adopting their addresses, Tinubu’s lawyer, Wole Olanipekun, and his APC counterpart, Akin Olujinmi urged the court to dismiss Obi’s appeal.
According to the panel led by Okoro, “This appeal is reserved for judgment until a date to be communicated to the parties.”
Earlier, the Peoples Democratic Party and its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, urged the Supreme Court to admit fresh documents against President Bola Tinubu.
Atiku’s lead counsel, Chris Uche, SAN, while speaking at the court on Monday, described the matter as a grave and constitutional matter.
He urged the court to adopt the application and grant their request.
He argued that, “The issue involving Mr Tinubu’s certificate is a weighty, grave, and constitutional one, which the Supreme Court should admit. I urge the court to admit the fresh evidence of President Tinubu’s academic records from CSU presented by Atiku.
“The Supreme Court must take a look at Mr Tinubu’s records and reach a decision devoid of technicality.”
But INEC lawyer, Abubakar Mahmoud, urged the Supreme Court to dismiss Atiku’s application seeking to present Tinubu’s academic records.
However, Tinubu’s lead counsel, Wole Olanipekun, SAN argued that INEC should have been a party at the deposition proceedings in the US, noting that the CSU depositions are dormant until the deponent comes to court and testify.