Atiku Heads For Supreme Court - Over Presidential Election

Okey Muogbo, Abuja - 15.03.2008

Former Vice president Atiku Abubakar has filed his appeal against the judgement of the Presidential Election petition Tribunal which threw away his petition against the election of President Umaru Yar’Adua and vice president Goodluck Jonathan at the 2007 presidential election.

Atiku, who was the presidential candidate of the Action Congress (AC) filed the appeal at the Supreme Court on Friday.

The former vice president is praying the apex court to set aside the judgement of the lower tribunal and nullify the result of the last presidential election.

It was filed by Atiku’s lawyer, Mr. Rickey Tarfa (SAN) who is leading 12 other senior lawyers, 11 of whom are also Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN).

Atiku filed his appeal on 39 grounds in which he claimed that the election tribunal committed error in law, misdirection on the fact or misdirection in law in the judgement.

The running mate of Atiku during the April 2007 Presidential election, Senator Ben Obi and the AC are the other plaintiff in the appeal.

Atiku is asking the following from the Supreme Court; an order allowing his appeal, an order setting aside the decision of the Court of Appeal dismissing the Petition of the Petitioners, and an order nullifying the Presidential Election held on the 21st day of April, 2007 and granting the prayers of the Petitioners in the Petition.

Other reliefs sought by Atiku include; an order setting aside the ruling of the Court of Appeal delivered on 9 February, 2008, rejecting as inadmissible in evidence, the 5th Defendant’s Post Election Report marked “EXHBIT 2008 Rejected”, and admitting the same in evidence for consideration in this appeal pursuant to Section 22 of the Supreme Court Act.

He also wants the Supreme Court to make any other order that it deems necessary in the circumstances pursuant to Section 22 of the Supreme Court Act.

Wole Olanipekun (SAN) leading the team of lawyers, appearing for the president and his vice.