By Louis Achi
Seven Supreme Court Justices have been picked to adjudicate the appeals filed by Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) against the election of President Bola Tinubu, which hearing will begin on October 23.
These are Justices Musa Dattijo Muhammad, Uwani Musa Aji, Lawal Garba, Helen Ogunwumiju, Mohammed Saulawa, Tijani Abubakar, and Emmanuel Agim, according to a notice signed by Zainab Garba in the office of the Registrar.
Speculations are rife that Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Olukayode Ariwoola and Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun may have recused themselves from the case to avoid conflict of interest.
The notice said by the Order 2 Rule 1 (2) of the Supreme Court’s Rules 1985 as amended, the notice is deemed as sufficiently served on the parties.
While Atiku is the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Obi is that of the Labour Party (LP). Tinubu is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The apex court also fixed October 23 for hearing of the motion filed by Atiku seeking to bring fresh evidence to prove Tinubu submitted a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which constitutionally disqualifies him from the office of President.
The judgment appealed was delivered by the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) on September 6 which many observers allege leaned heavily on technicalities to deny truth and justice, ignoring the spirit of both the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
TheNewDiplomat checks at Supreme Court website shows it currently has 11 Justices instead of the normal 15.
