Atiku requests Supreme Court’s leave to produce more evidence against Tinubu

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 25 election, Atiku Abubakar, has requested the leave of the Supreme Court to produce fresh evidence of alleged forgery against President Bola Tinubu.

He said the fresh documents were part of the academic records of the president, which he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in aid of his qualification for the presidential election.

He said the 32-page document, which he recently received under deposition from the Chicago State University (CSU) following the order of Judge Nancy Maldonado, bordered on constitutional provision for the qualification of a candidate for the office of the president.

In the application, dated October 5, 2023, Atiku’s lead counsel, Chris Uche said it was based on Order 2, Rule 12(1) of the Supreme Court Rules 1985, Section 137(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, 1999 (As Amended), and under the inherent jurisdiction of the Honourable Court as granted by Section 6(6)(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended).

Atiku specifically prayed the apex court for an order granting him leave “to produce and for the court to receive fresh and additional evidence by way of deposition on oath from the Chicago State University for use in this appeal, to wit: the certified discovery deposition made by Caleb Westberg on behalf of Chicago State University on October 3, 2023, disclaiming the certificate presented by the 2nd respondent, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to INEC.

The application was predicated on 20 grounds, which amongst others, claimed that the “deposition sought to be adduced is, along with its accompanying documents, such as would have important effect in the resolution of this appeal.”

Atiku reminded the apex court that, “Presentation of a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission by a candidate for election to the office of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a weighty constitutional matter, requiring consideration by the courts as custodians of the Constitution.”

Uche stated that the original certified deposition had been forwarded to the Supreme Court by a letter addressed to the chief registrar of the Supreme Court.