• By Halimah Olamide

The chairman of the seven-man panel prosecuting the appeal petition against President Bola Tinubu on Monday submitted that there are two conflicting letters from the Chicago State University, the President’s alma mater.

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Chairman, Justice Okoro said criminal matters have to be proved beyond reasonable doubt. “But in this case, there are two conflicting letters from the CSU – one authenticating the president’s certificate and another discrediting it. Which do we rely on?”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had said President Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won the February 25 presidential election, defeating his closest rivals, Atiku Abubakar and Labour Party’s Peter Obi.

The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal had dismissed the appeals by Atiku and Peter Obi of Labour Party, but they headed for the apex court, with Atiku asking to filed extra evidence against Tinubu on alleged forgery.

However, still convinced he had a case to prove, Atiku had requested for Tinubu’s academic record from the Chicago State University so as to prove his allegation that the president submitted forged documents to INEC.

By the times the documents were released the 180 days statutory period within which an election petition should be filed and determined had elapsed.

But Atiku asked the court to grant his appeal to tender fresh evidence, given the nature of the issue. Tinubu kicked against this, saying granting such would amount to abuse of court process.

Atiku predicated his plea on the grounds that presenting forged documents by any candidate, especially by one for the highest office in the land, is a grave constitutional issue that must not be encouraged.

But Tinubu kicked, arguing that the issue is a pre-election matter amongst others and subsequently prayed the court to deny the grant of the application.

While faulting Tinubu, Atiku submitted that issues of merit ought not to be determined or pronounced upon at the interlocutory stage.

Atiku also pointed out that the presentation of a forged certificate disqualifies a candidate for all time, no matter when presented.