By Doris Israel Ijeoma
President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC), have concluded their defense in the legal case brought against them by the Labour Party (LP) and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi. The case challenges the results of the Nigerian presidential election held on February 25.
On Wednesday, Tinubu and his team, led by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), announced the closure of their defense after presenting Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele as their sole witness. This followed the earlier report that Olanipekun had presented 18 documents to support his clients’ position.
The APC’s lawyer, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), stated that, after assessing the progress of the case, his client was confident that they had adequately presented their argument and did not require any further witnesses. Consequently, he announced the conclusion of the APC’s defense.
Among the documents presented to the tribunal were a letter from former Inspector General of Police, Tarfa Balogun, addressed to the US Embassy in Nigeria, dated February 3, 2003, as well as a response from the US Embassy dated February 4, 2003. Additionally, educational records of Tinubu from Chicago State University, certified by Jamar C. Orr, Associate General Counsel, Office of Legal Affairs, Chicago State University, were submitted.
The documents further included pages from Tinubu’s international passport, which demonstrated his travels to the US from 2011 to 2023. Other documents presented were the Labour Party’s forwarding letter regarding membership registration on April 25, 2022, the LP’s register of members for Anambra State, and a copy of the report from the Committee On The Location of the FCT and Historical Bureau.
Tinubu also submitted a copy of form EC8D for Kano State, which pertained to the presidential election on February 25, 2023. Furthermore, an acknowledgment of Shettima’s voluntary withdrawal of candidacy from the Borno Central Senatorial District election, dated July 6, 2022, was presented. The judgment of the Supreme Court in case SC/CV/501/2023, titled PDP vs INEC and 3 others, delivered on May 26, 2023, was included as well. Finally, copies of page 28 and page 27 of the Nigerian Tribune Newspaper from February 23, 2023, were tendered as evidence.
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