In the ongoing legal battle over the 2023 presidential election in Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has stated that Atiku Abubakar and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are attempting the impossible by trying to introduce fresh evidence at the Supreme Court. Atiku and the PDP have challenged Tinubu's victory and the election tribunal's verdict, raising concerns about discrepancies and forgeries in Tinubu's academic records.
Atiku had secured a court order in the United States compelling Chicago State University (CSU) to release Tinubu's academic records, and he now seeks to introduce these records at the Supreme Court.
However, in a counter affidavit and written address, Tinubu argued that the Supreme Court cannot accept the written deposition of the CSU registrar, as the registrar was not a witness before the election tribunal, and the deposition was not activated through oral evidence as required by law.
Tinubu emphasized that the new evidence was neither pleaded nor listed at the lower court, and he questioned whether it was documentary or oral evidence.
He also raised concerns about fair hearing, as accepting the new evidence would deprive the respondents of an opportunity to respond. Tinubu stated that the application is meant to harass and annoy him and is reckless and frivolous.
Tinubu urged the Supreme Court to dismiss Atiku's application. The legal battle continues as both parties await the court's decision.
