The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to admit fresh documents obtained by opposition leader Atiku Abubakar from a United States court as part of his evidence to prove that President Bola Tinubu violated multiple electoral laws before the election.
In the lead judgment currently being delivered by Justice John Okoro, the court held that facts and evidence not rendered at the presidential election tribunal have no place in appeal.
“Facts and matters that were not rendered in the tribunal have no place in the appeal,” the court ruled, adding that; “A petitioner shall not be allowed to introduce new evidences in an appeal.”
By this ruling, the apex court has refused to invoke its powers to accept the fresh evidence that could prove damning to President Tinubu’s continued stay in office.
The court added that Mr Abubakar did not include forgery in his case at the tribunal and that the apex court will not be taking fresh evidence that were not tendered within the 180 days of tribunal.
