The Supreme Court has ruled that the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) did not exhibit bias while delivering its September 6th judgment in favour of President Bola Tinubu.
This decision came in response to claims by one of the appellants, Atiku Abubakar, that the PEPC had used disparaging words that indicated bias.
Justice Inyang Okoro, who chaired the Supreme Court panel, stated, “I have read the judgment of the court below, and I’ve seen the context in which those words were used, and it is my view that they were not meant to disparage the appellant or their counsel.
“As judges, we are trained to be temperate in our use of words and we shall continue to do so. Litigants are advised to trust the court whenever their matters are before it.”
Justice Okoro further cautioned appellants and their counsels against engaging in media trials and judgments when a case is pending before the court.
Atiku had alleged that during the PEPC’s judgment, the judges used expressions that implied bias, such as “ludicrous,” “clever by half,” “dishonorable practice,” “smuggle,” and “fallacious.” He argued that these words suggested prejudice and bias on the part of the PEPC.
“It is the position of the appellants that the choice of words and expressions by the lower court shows the lower court’s contempt and disdain for the appellants,” he said.
In their appeal, Atiku and PDP lead counsel, Chris Uche, contended that the PEPC’s judgment was not only perverse but also marred by a grave miscarriage of justice against Atiku.
They asserted that the PEPC erred in law by not annulling the presidential election, even though evidence showed INEC’s breach of electoral laws.
However, the Supreme Court, in dismissing the appeal filed by Atiku, PDP, and the Labor Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, upheld the PEPC’s judgment and declared Tinubu as the duly elected President of Nigeria.
In response to the verdict, President Tinubu stated that the affirmation of his victory in the presidential election was justice for all Nigerians, putting an end to shenanigans and trials in the media and public space.
He commended the court’s commitment to the rule of law and justice for all citizens, regardless of their backgrounds.