Fresh evidence: Atiku asks S/Court to reject Tinubu’s opposition

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has pleaded with the Supreme Court to refuse the argument of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made based on technicality on his fresh evidence in the court.

Atiku had filed for leave of the apex court to tender fresh and additional evidence to support his claim that the president submitted forged document to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to contest the February 25 presidential election.

Atiku argued that presenting forged documents by any candidate, especially by a candidate for the highest office in the land, is a very grave constitutional issue that must not be encouraged.

Atiku’s latest submission is his reply on points of law to Tinubu’s objection to the grant of leave to Atiku to present the fresh evidence before the apex court.

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Tinubu through his lawyers led by Wole Olanipekun (SAN) had objected to the admission of the documents on grounds that the Supreme Court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain it, adding that the issue of qualification is a pre-election matter, among others.

Atiku’s lawyers led by Chris Uche (SAN) argued that they are merely applying for leave to receive the fresh evidence, and “to refuse to grant the leave as the respondents have argued, will amount to undue technicality.”

“The need to rebuff, eschew and reject technicality and the duty of court to ensure substantial justice is very germane in this matter, given the gravity of the constitutional issue involved in deciding whether a candidate for the highest office in the land, the office of president of the country, presented a forged certificate or not,” he said.