Legal Affairs
Presidential Election Tribunal live updates for June 10, 2023
Time: 2pm
The boxes and the projector were returned to court this afternoon. Due to the lengthy argument, the court hasn’t been able to review and admit the boxes of IREV documents that were brought in 2 days ago. Hopefully, some will be tendered today.
Make no mistakes; Labour Party is overwhelming the court with evidences.
Time: 210pm
Supporters of president Bola Tinubu are right outside the courthouse protesting instead of encouraging their lawyers to prove how Tinubu won the election in court.
Seems the video clip about to be played in court today is making them uncomfortable.
Time: 2:50pm
The Justices have sat at about 2:20pm…
And the case of Peter Obi is called CA/PEPC/03/2023
– Peter Obi represents himself: ‘Respectfully my Lords, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi, for the Petitioners’
– Other parties are absent.
Now to Appearances.
LP counsel team today is being led by Dr Livy Uzoukwu SAN.
Other LP Counsel Members Present Are:
Awa Kalu SAN
PIN Ikwueto SAN
Ben Anachebe SAN
JS Okutepa SAN
Dr Mrs Valeria Nzigwe SAN
Peter Afoba SAN
Chike Obi SAN
Rita Garba SAN
C Olushola SAN
1st Respondent (INEC):
Kemi Pinero SAN
Sir Stephen Adeyi
T. M. Inuha
Alhassan SAN
Abdulaziz Sunny SAN
Suleiman Ibrahim SAN
Nasara Attah Esq
Patricia Obi Esq
Chukwudi Enebeli Esq
2nd & 3rd Respondents (Tinubu/Shettima):
Chief Hakim Origimi SAN
Emmanuel Ukala SAN
Oladipo seyi SAN
Mrs. Funmilayo Kuadri SAN
Remi Olatubora SAN
M. A. ABUBAKAR SAN
Emmanuel Wadoka Esq
Akintola Makinde Esq
Patrick Ezezokwu Esq
4th Respondent (APC):
Afolabi Fasianu SAN
Solomon Umoh SAN
Rotimi Okueso SAN
Oluseye Obasoya SAN
Kayode Olatoke SAN
Lawan Yusufare SAN
Aliyu Saiki SAN
Chief Anthony Adeniyi SAN
Abdulrashid SAN
Lukman Fagbemi SAN
Omonsoya Ogbola Esq
Folake Abiodun Esq
Bolaji Oyun Esq
LP brought an application for interrogatories, court mentioned it will give a ruling on that today.
They are about to do that first before we proceed. Justices are writing!
Time: 3pm
One of the things justices look into before ruling on an application is whether the Petitioner(s) have satisfied the requirements of the law to justify the grant of the application!
Still waiting for the pronouncement on the ruling.
The Lead Justice, Hon. J. Haruna Tsammani have now considered all the arguments by the parties and rules that the application to serve Interrogatories on the 1st Respondent is hereby DENIED, for not moving their motion and filing out of time.
As the Court pleases!
Interrogatories Para 17 of the Schedule to the Electoral Act provides for the time for interrogatories. The time has been exceeded; Therefore, the application by the petitioners cannot be granted.
The Lead Justice also struck out the second motion.
Justice Adah:
He also ruled that the Motion be struck out.
Justice Bolaji:
He also aligned with the other Justices and struck it out.
Justice Ugo:
He aligned with his learned brothers and struck both motions out.
Justice Abba-Bello:
He also concurred and struck out the two motions.
As the court pleases.
Dr Livy Uzoukwu SAN have just informed the court that they will proceed to the witness from yesterday.
He have now defer proceedings to JS Okutekpa SAN who have requested Mr. Lucky to take the Witness Dock.
Mr. Lucky have just walked into the court…
Q: You made reference in your Witness Statement on Oath-WSO about your Identity Card showing you work with Channels, where is it and can I see it?
A. It’s here with me (he now presents his ID card)
JS Okutekpa SAN just informs the court that he is an ordinary witness, not a Star
Time: 3:18pm
JS Okutekpa SAN now applies to tender the ID Card and that where it is admitted, a coloured photocopy be substituted so that he can go with it.
Now to objections.
1st Respondent:
No objections
2nd and 3rd Respondents:
No objections
4th Respondent:
Witness still inside the witness box.
No objections
Time: 3:31pm
The Court:
The copy of the ID card of the subpoena witness is hereby admitted into evidence and marked as Exhibit PBH5.
As the court pleases.
LP’s Okutekpa SAN now applies that Exhibit PBH3 be played FOR ALL TO SEE. And that Ikwueto SAN handles the playing as head of technical unit
Court Update:
Ladies and gentlemen, playing on our screens is the video of Prof. Mahmoud addressing the press.
Finally, our movie is here…
The video being played is the video where Yakubu Mahmoud assures Nigeria that there’s no going back on the transmission of results REAL-TIME from the election venue and no going back on the use of BVAS for accreditation and upload.
It was heard loud and clear.
Time: 3:33pm
Mahmoud is heard in the video saying ‘a total of 2,780,786 were identified as ineligible voters and removed from the register’.
He also says ‘3.8million or 40% of voters are students’.
Time: 3:40pm
Court Joke:
1st Resp: My Lords I want you all to take note of the glitches cos there’ll be some
(Court laughs)
LP: This is not the BVAS you used for elections, so it will work
(Court laughs)
(Video playing in low volume)
Time: 55pm
In this second video, Channels TV’s Seun Okinbaloya is in an interview with INEC’s Festus Okoye where he drills him on questions.
Festus Okoye is heard clearly saying when asked by Seun about upload…
‘The commission made it very clear that there were some glitches…’
This interview was after the presidential election.
INEC National Commissioner Festus Okoye says the Commission won’t prevent people from protesting at its offices if they have grievances. #CTVTweets#SundayPolitics pic.twitter.com/rTswGGIw85
— Channels Television (@channelstv) March 12, 2023
Time: 4pm
3rd video: The video where Shettima was announced as running mate is been played.
This will be used to prove the claim of double nomination against Section 35 of the Electoral Act.
Tinubu is heard in the video saying the place holder, Aminu Masari, have dropped and he has picked Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the presidential election.
JS Okutekpa SAN have requested that the video be stopped since the place he wants to make reference to have been played.
But Justice Bello requests that the entire video be allowed to play since the entire drive was tendered in evidence.
Time: 4:6pm
The lead Justice expresses displeasure that lawyers are in court and chewing gum. He notes that, apart from delivering judgment in the case, they would give a conduct report on the entire proceedings.
It’s actually unethical.
Time: 4:9pm
JS Okutekpa SAN notes that he’s done with the witness and now surrenders him for cross-examination.
1st Respondent Cross-examination:
He notes that the witness is a very lucky man and he has no question for him
2nd and 3rd Respondents Cross-examination:
Q. You’re a news reporter?
A. Yes
Q. Last paragraph of your WSO, you noted that the flash drive you tendered were recorded by the cameraman of the company?
A. Yes sir
Q. The cameraman is still alive?
A. Very well.
Time: 4:14pm
2nd and 3rd Respondents Cross-examination:
Q. You’re a news reporter?
A. Yes
Q. Last paragraph of your WSO, you noted that the flash drive you tendered were recorded by the cameraman of the company?
A. Yes Sir
Q. The cameraman is still alive?
A. Very well
Q. All the people featured in the recordings played, particularly the Chairman of INEC, Mahmoud, Festus Okoye, they are still alive?
A. Yes
My lord, that will be all for now.
4th Respondent Cross-examination:
Q. Chairman of INEC is alive?
A. As at this moment, yes
Q. Festus Okoye is alive?
A. As at this moment, yes
My Lord, that will be all for now.
Time: 4:17pm
JS Okutekpa SAN notes that they have no re-examination and apply that the witness be discharged. Lucky has now left the witness box and the court.
Dr. Livy informs the court that they are ready to proceed with the tendering of documents.
The court informs him that they have about 50 more minutes for the day and they can proceed.
Time: 4:21pm
LP’s Peter Afuba SAN is now to conduct the proceedings and they will be tendering the documents from the Bar.
Peter Obi, Akin Osuntokun and Oseloka Obaze
are now seen leaving the courtroom.
Time: 4:22pm
Documents EC40G of Benue State
Pg 1 of the schedule
7 LGAs, 8 Forms are being presented.
Time: 4:29
Petitioners (LP):
They’ll now start with the tendering of Certified True Copies of Form EC40G for 7 LGAs of Benue State in evidence.
Ukum
Katsina-Ala
Agatu
Ado
Tarka
Gwer East
1st Respondent:
They object to the admissibility of the documents and shall advance their reasons at the time of final address.
2nd and 3rd Respondents:
They also object and will advance reasons at time of final address.
4th Respondent:
They equally object on the same grounds.
Time: 4:34pm
The Court:
The bundles Certified True Copies of Forms EC40G PU in respect to 6 LGAs of Benue State are hereby admitted into evidence and marked as Exhibits PBJ1-6 accordingly.
As the court pleases.
Time: 4:38pm
Petitioners (LP):
They will now tender certified true copies of Form EC40G1 for Ado LGA of Benue State.
Time: 4:38pm
Petitioners (LP):
They will now tender certified true copies of Form EC40G1 for Ado LGA of Benue State.
The Certified True Copies of Forms EC40G and EC840G1 in respect to Ado LGA of Benue State is hereby admitted into evidence and marked as Exhibits PBJ7-8 accordingly.
As the court pleases.
Time: 4:51pm
Petitioners now tender certified true copy of INEC report in respect to Benue State
All object as usual.
The Court:
The Certified True Copies of INEC report in respect to Benue State is hereby admitted into evidence and marked as Exhibit PBJ9 accordingly.
As the court pleases…
Now to Niger State… But my Lords want it adjourned.
The Court:
The hearing is hereby ADJOURNED till Tuesday June 13, 2023 at 9am.
We are back to morning session.
Monday is a public holiday.
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Relatives of the 13 wedding guests killed in Plateau State have condemned the State High Court’s decision to release 20 suspects on bail.
The victims were brutally murdered on June 12, 2025, when a mob attacked their bus in Mangun district, Mangu Local Government Area.
They were traveling from Kaduna State to attend a wedding in Qua’an Pan LGA before tragedy struck.
According to reports, the group lost their way and entered a volatile community already shaken by recent terrorist activity.
Local youths allegedly mistook them for bandits and launched a deadly assault, leaving 13 people dead on the spot.
Following the killings, security operatives arrested 21 suspects.
In an earlier court sitting, 20 of them were remanded at the Jos Correctional Center while investigations continued.
However, on Wednesday, August 20, Justice Nafisa Lawal Musa granted bail after a motion filed by defence counsel, Garba Pwul (SAN).
This ruling has triggered outrage among the families of the victims, who insist the development is a slap in the face of justice.
Mallam Abdullahi Tahir Balami, a relative of one of the deceased, condemned the court’s action.
Speaking to reporters, he described the ruling as suspicious and raised concerns about possible foul play.
“With this development, we are now questioning the commitment of the Plateau State government to justice,” Balami said.
“It is saddening that suspects in a multiple homicide case can be released on bail.”
Another relative, Mallam Ubale Anguwar Dantsoho, who lost several family members, also expressed anger.
He described the decision as shocking and warned that justice may never be served.
“How can suspects in a murder case be granted bail?” he asked. “It shows that our system is failing us.”
Maryam Usman, widow of the driver killed in the massacre, expressed her heartbreak.
She said she struggled to understand why suspects linked to such a crime would be freed.
“What kind of court is this?” she asked in despair. “Instead of justice, the court dashed our hopes. We no longer believe justice will come.”
Her words echoed the feelings of many families now convinced that the judiciary has abandoned them.
Human rights activists are also calling for urgent intervention from both the state and federal governments to ensure accountability.
The Plateau killings have become one of the most disturbing tragedies in recent months.
The case now highlights the growing tension between grieving families and a judicial system accused of ignoring victims.
The Court of Appeal in Sokoto has upheld the Federal High Court’s decision dismissing former Zamfara State Governor Bello Matawalle’s challenge over the confiscation of over 40 official vehicles seized from his residence after he left office in 2023.
Delivering its unanimous verdict on August 8, 2025, a three-member panel led by Justice A.M. Talba ruled that Matawalle failed to provide credible evidence proving personal ownership of the vehicles.
The court emphasized that the vehicles were government property, not private assets, and rejected his claim that the seizure violated his fundamental property rights.
According to Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal’s spokesman, Sulaiman Idris, the vehicles were recovered in June 2023 after Matawalle and his deputy ignored a five-day ultimatum to return them.
Following their refusal, the state government sought and obtained a court order, enabling police operatives to raid Matawalle’s residence and recover the vehicles.
Initially, Matawalle secured an interim ruling from the Federal High Court in Gusau for the vehicles to be returned to him.
He also filed a separate suit claiming the confiscation breached his fundamental rights.
However, the case was transferred to the Sokoto division of the Federal High Court, which dismissed his claims in December 2023, affirming that the vehicles remained state property.
Dissatisfied with the lower court’s ruling, Matawalle escalated the matter to the Court of Appeal.
The appellate court, however, upheld the Federal High Court’s decision, affirming that the police acted lawfully in investigating the alleged misappropriation and that the state government followed due process in retrieving the vehicles.
The court concluded that Matawalle’s claims lacked merit and could not shield him from investigation or potential prosecution.
The leadership crisis tearing the Labour Party apart appears to have reached a turning point as the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Friday, struck out Julius Abure’s case against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), officially affirming that he is no longer the party’s National Chairman.
The court, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1523/2025, dismissed Abure’s suit due to a lack of jurisdiction, aligning with the Supreme Court’s earlier verdict on April 4, 2025 (Appeal No. SC/CV/56/2025), which voided all prior recognitions of his leadership.
However, while speaking on the judgment, Senator Nenadi Usman, the party’s Interim National Chairman, described the ruling as a clear victory for the rule of law.
“This decision removes every lingering doubt about Abure’s status. The chapter is closed. It’s time to put distractions behind us and rebuild the Labour Party into the disciplined, people-centred movement Nigerians deserve”, she said.
Also, INEC’s counter-affidavit in the case further solidified the court’s position, stressing that Abure’s tenure, along with that of the National Executive Committee, had expired in June 2024.
The commission also argued that the controversial March 27, 2024 “Nnewi National Convention” was invalid as it violated the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act 2022, INEC guidelines, and the Labour Party’s own constitution.
Senator Usman commended the electoral commission for its “clarity, courage, and institutional integrity” in presenting the facts and urged party members to “respect the supremacy of the Constitution and the authority of the courts.”
With bye-elections on the horizon and the 2027 general elections in sight, this ruling could mark the end of a year-long factional battle that has plagued the party.
The focus now shifts to uniting the Labour Party and preparing for the political challenges ahead.
On August 8, 2025, the Court of Appeal, sitting in Abuja, upheld NNPC Ltd.’s appeal against the Federal High Court’s April 2023 judgement that annulled Senator Ifeanyi Araraume’s removal as non-executive Chairman of the NNPC Board and awarded him ₦5 billion in damages.
The Court of Appeal’s judgement spares NNPC Ltd a massive financial payout and removes a legal risk that could have invalidated all decisions of the Board since 2021.
The Appeal Court agreed to NNPC Ltd.’s position that the Federal High Court’s earlier decision was delivered in error, noting amongst others, that the claim was statute-barred.
This decision of the Court of Appeal secures governance stability for NNPC Ltd., sets a corporate governance precedent in Nigerian law, and upholds the validity of Board resolutions critical to the oil and gas industry’s investment and policy direction.
An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday cleared Miss Comfort Emmason of all charges related to unruly behavior and assaulting the flight crew aboard an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos.
Magistrate Olanrewaju Salami struck out the five-count charge following the withdrawal of the case by the police prosecution team.
During the hearing, prosecutor Oluwabunmi Adeitan informed the court of new developments that led to the decision to discontinue the case.
She submitted a formal application for its withdrawal, which the court accepted, effectively bringing the matter to a close.
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