By Becky Usman

The Supreme Court has decided to reserve judgment in the appeal brought forward by the Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi, challenging the tribunal’s verdict that affirmed President Bola Tinubu’s election.

The seven-member panel, led by Justice John Inyang Okoro, has heard arguments from all parties involved in the case and will communicate the judgment date to them.

The other members of the panel include Justices Uwani Aji, Mohammed Garba, Ibrahim Saulawa, Adamu Jauro, Abubakar Tijjani, and Emmanuel Agim.

Peter Obi’s lead counsel, Livy Uzoukwu, urged the court to consider the appeal.

Mahmoud, representing INEC, argued that the appeal should be dismissed as it lacked merit.

Wole Olanipekun, Tinubu’s lawyer, and Akin Olujinmi, representing the APC, also called for the dismissal of Obi’s appeal.

Justice Okoro, on behalf of the panel, stated, “This appeal is reserved for judgment, and the date will be communicated to the parties.”

In a separate matter, the Peoples Democratic Party and Atiku Abubakar have urged the Supreme Court to admit new documents related to President Bola Tinubu.

Their lead counsel, Chris Uche, SAN, described the issue as a grave and constitutional matter, calling on the Supreme Court to accept their application and grant their request.

Uche argued that the matter of President Tinubu’s certificate is a significant and constitutional one that the Supreme Court should examine. He urged the court to admit the fresh evidence of President Tinubu’s academic records from CSU presented by Atiku.

In response, INEC’s lawyer, Abubakar Mahmoud, called on the Supreme Court to reject Atiku’s application seeking to present Tinubu’s academic records. Tinubu’s lead counsel, Wole Olanipekun, SAN, argued that INEC should have been a party in the deposition proceedings in the US and emphasized that the CSU depositions remain inactive until the deponent appears in court to testify.