Supreme Court Begins Hearing Atiku, Peter Obi’s Appeal against Tinubu's Victory; Live Updates

Supreme Court adjourns PDP, LP's appeals

The 7-member panel led by Justice Okoro has adjourned after the arguments of lawyers of the PDP and the LP.

“This appeal is reserved for judgment until a date to be communicated to parties,” Okoro held.

Supreme Court reserves judgment in appeal by Obi/LP

The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in the appeal by Peter Obi and the Labour Party (LP).

Justice Okoro said parties would be notified when the judgment is ready.

Lawyer to the appellants, Livy Uzoukwu (SAN), while adopting his written briefs, prayed the court to allow the appeal and grant the reliefs sought.

Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN) for INEC; Wole Olanipekun (SAN) for Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettma; and Akin Olujinmi (SAN) for the APC urged the court to dismiss the appeal for lacking in merit.

Tinubu's victory: Supreme Court dismisses APM’s appeal

The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

The part is challenging the nomination of Kashim Shettima as the APC's Vice Presidential candidate.

The Okoro-led panel dismissed the appeal after the appellant’s lawyer, Chukwuma Majukwu Umeh, applied to withdraw it.

The panel also noted that the appeal was frivolous because the Supreme Court had, in an earlier case of PDP v. INEC and others, resolved this issue that Shettima was properly nominated.

Supreme Court begins hearing APM's appeal

The apex court reconvenes for the hearing of the appeal by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM).

Olanipekun asks the court to strike out APM's petition.

Supreme Court says there're conflicting letters from Chicago State University on Tinubu’s certificate

Justice Okoro says there are conflicting letters from the Chicago State University (CSU) on President Tinubu’s certificate.

He said this while hearing Atiku's application filed against Tinubu's victory.

The judge, however, said criminal matters have to be proved beyond reasonable doubt.

“But in this case, there are two conflicting letters from the CSU – one authenticating the president’s certificate and another discrediting it. Which do we rely on?,” he asked.

He subsequently reserved ruling in the appeal.

Supreme Court reserves judgment in Atiku/PDP's appeal

The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in the appeal filed by Atiku and the PDP.

The seven-member panel of the court led by Justice Okoro announced the decision after lawyers to parties adopted their briefs of argument and made final submissions.

Legit.ng gathers that the apex court also took arguments from lawyers to parties on the motion filed by the appellants to supply fresh evidence.

Atiku's legal team led by Chris Uche (SAN), urged the court to grant the motion and allow their appeal, grant the prayers sought and disqualify President Tinubu.

The residents' lawyers, Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN (INEC), Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN (Tinubu) and Chief Akin Olujinmi, SAN (APC) urged the court to dismiss both the motion and appeal for lacking in merit.

Supreme Court begins hearing

The Supreme Court has now commenced proceedings in the three appeals challenging Tinubu's victory.

Justice John Okoro is leading the apex court’s seven-member panel.

Legit.ng gathers that lawyers to parties are announcing their appearances.

Senior lawyers arrive Supreme Court

Some senior lawyers involved in the presidential election legal battle have arrived at the apex court.

Here is a list of some of those present in court:

• Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Tinubu/Shettima legal team's lead
• Mike Ozekhome (SAN), a member of the Atiku/PDP legal team
• Charles Uwensuyi-Edosomwan, SAN (member of APC legal team)
• Sir Steve Adehi, SAN, (INEC, legal team)
• Chukwuma Majukwu Umeh, SAN, (APM legal team)
• Prof Taiwo Osinpitan, SAN
• Yusuf Alli, SAN
• Babatunde Ogala, SAN (APC team)
• Chris Uche, SAN
• Gordy Uche, SAN
• Emeka Etiaba, SAN (Atiku/PDP legal team)

Key issues Atiku, Obi raised in their appeals at Supreme Court

Atiku, Obi and the APM filed separate appeals to challenge the decision of the court. Here are some of the key issues raised in the appeals:

1. Eligibility of President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima’s candidacy for the election
2. Tinubu’s inability to secure 25 per cent of valid votes cast in Abuja during the polls
3. INEC’s failure to electronically transmit polling unit results to its Results Viewing (IReV) portal in real-time
4. Allegations of vote manipulation in favour of President Tinubu
5. President Tinubu’s academic records which were obtained from the Chicago State University (CSU) in October by Atiku

Flashback: How Atiku, Obi, APM lost at tribunal

Legit.ng recalls that the Presidential Election Petition Court, under the leadership of Judge Haruna Tsammani, issued a ruling declaring that Atiku and Obi could not provide sufficient evidence to support their respective allegations of extensive electoral misconduct during the Nigerian presidential election held on February 25th, conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Additionally, the court dismissed a separate petition from the APM on the basis that it lacked merit.

List of Supreme Court justices to hear the appeals

Here is the list of the seven-member panel of justices constituted by the Supreme Court to hear the appeal.

1. Justice John Okoro
2. Justice Uwani Abba-Aji
3. Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba
4. Justice Adamu Jauro
5. Justice Ibrahim Saulawa
6. Justice Tijani Abubakar
7. Justice Emmanuel Agim

7-member panel to heal Atiku, Obi, APM's appeals

A seven-member panel of the Supreme Court will hear the appeals by Atiku, Obi and the APM challenging the tribunal judgement which affirmed Tinubu’s election.