Presidential Tribunal: Ignore fake news on Justice Ugo’s resignation – Appeal Court

By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA– The Court of Appeal, on Thursday, debunked the news that a member of the five-member panel that is handling petitions seeking to nullify the election of President Bola Tinubu, resigned.

A high ranking official of the court, who spoke to Vanguard, described the information as “fake news”, insisting that it was the handiwork of “evil rumour mongers.”

The source, who pleaded not to be mentioned because he was not authorized to speak to the press, maintained that “no such thing happened.”

He said: “I was with some members of the panel yesterday and I can authoritatively tell you that there was nothing like that.

“In fact, we were shocked when our attention was drawn to the fake news. The true position is that parties in the petitions were given time to file and exchange their final written address. They are already doing that.

“Once the process is completed, the panel will communicate a date for the parties to appear in court to adopt their processes after which the petitions will be fixed for judgement.

“So, it is absurd for someone to sit in a corner of his room and concoct lies from the figment of his or her imagination.

“In fact, our attention was equally drawn to another fake news that a former Governor of Rivers State held a meeting with members of the court, outside the country.

“These are very laughable. How can the honourable justices on the panel travel abroad when they have enormous work pending on their desks?

“Please ignore the fake news. It is very unfortunate. Hopefully, before the end of the day, the Appeal Court will issue a formal statement on the matter.

“I believe that unless someone is made a scape goat, this fake news trend will continue,” the source added.

Meanwhile, in the said “fake news” that is gaining traction on social media, it was reported that a member of the presidential election petition court, Justice Boloukuoromo M. Ugo, had in “a shocking and unprecedented move”, resigned from the bench over pressure from the Executive arm of the government which he believed would destroy the country’s democracy.

According to the report, Justice Ugo, in a statement, maintained that siding with the government on the matter before the court, would be the “death of Nigeria’s democracy,” insisting that he could not in good conscience remain silent.

The report stated that Justice Ugo, in the said statement, disclosed that he was asked to “cripple the independence of the judiciary”, by ruling in favor of President Tinubu.

Besides, he was reported to have claimed that the panel was asked to suppress evidence and dismiss all the petitions against President Tinubu.

It will be recalled that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Kayode Ariwoola, had on Wednesday, equally debunked the news that he had a telephone conversation with President Tinubu with respect to petitions that are seeking to sack him from office.

FAKE NEWS ALERT: NJC debunks alleged resignation of presidential tribunal judge

Soji Oye, director of information, National Judicial Council (NJC), says Boloukuoromo Ugo, justice of the court of appeal, has not withdrawn his membership of the presidential election petition court.

Umar Sani, a Twitter user, claimed that Ugo tendered his resignation after citing “demands to knee-cap democracy”.

Sani alleged that the judge, in his letter, stated that he was asked to “cripple the independence of the judiciary” by ruling in favour of a certain political candidate believed to be President Bola Tinubu.

“Justice Ugo’s resignation has caused a serious uproar and a setback to the activities of the presidential election petition court,” Sani said.

However, speaking with TheCable on Thursday, Oye described the claims as “falsehood from the pit of hell”.

He said the allegations should be disregarded, adding that the aim is to distract Nigerians and set the tone for a narrative, in the event that the court’s judgement doesn’t favour the rumour peddlers.

Oye said the presidential election petition court will issue a formal statement to address the issues.

When contacted, Josephine Ekperobe, secretary of the presidential tribunal, said the story is “fake”.

She said she spent time with the judge yesterday and that as of Thursday, she is yet to be informed of the judge’s purported resignation.

SUPREME COURT REACTS TO REPORTS THAT TINUBU SPOKE WITH CJN

Ugo’s alleged resignation is coming barely 48 hours after Jackson Ude, a Twitter user, reported that the president spoke with Olukayode Ariwoola, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), over the outcome of the presidential election petition.

Ude alleged that the CJN told Tinubu to prepare for a rerun of the election.

However, Festus Akande, spokesperson of the supreme court, said there was “no iota of truth” in the claim.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) also denied the allegation by Ude.

Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi, standard bearers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Labour Party (LP), are challenging the victory of Tinubu in the last election.

Abubakar and Obi recently submitted their final written addresses after closing their respective cases at the election tribunal.

The tribunal is yet to fix a day for the adoption of final written addresses and judgement in the petitions.

PlayMaker14:
Tinubu and his team are working hard to threaten them to get one or two to resign so that the panel will be bereft of jurisdiction at this stage.

Their efforts to pressure Justice Ugo and two other judges to resign are a clear sign of their fear of the outcome of the case

Justice Tsannami will definitely be the sell out.


All Eyes On The Judiciary.

naptu2:


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/07/presidential-tribunal-ignore-fake-news-on-justice-ugos-resignation-appeal-court/

Picture 2 = the fake news.

Penguin2:
True or false, it’s just to remind you lots that we have our eyes on you.

Meanwhile the judges and courts have been denying every other report Jackson Ude but hasn’t denied his report of More Supreme Court judges being banned from the United States, why?

Penguin2:
True or false, it’s just to remind you lots that we have our eyes on you.

Meanwhile the judges and courts have been denying every other report Jackson Ude but hasn’t denied his report of More Supreme Court judges being banned from the United States, why?

PlayMaker14:
Kindly point to where you see me dropping any false news or you just want to be silly.

naptu2:


https://www.vanguardngr.com/2023/07/presidential-tribunal-ignore-fake-news-on-justice-ugos-resignation-appeal-court/

Picture 2 = the fake news.

naptu2:
More fake news.