…By Lola Smith for TDPel Media.
President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), have concluded their defense in the lawsuit filed by the Labour Party (LP) and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
This legal action challenges the outcome of the presidential election held in Nigeria on February 25.
Closure of the Case and Witness Testimony
On Wednesday, President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima closed their case after presenting Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, the Senate Majority leader, as their sole witness.
Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), the legal representative for Tinubu and Shettima, announced the conclusion of his clients’ defense.
Documents Presented in Defense
Earlier, Chief Olanipekun had presented 18 documents in support of his clients’ position.
These documents included a letter from former Inspector General of Police, Tarfa Balogun, addressed to the US Embassy in Nigeria and dated February 3, 2003.
Additionally, a letter from the US Embassy itself dated February 4, 2003, was presented.
Furthermore, a bundle of educational records from Chicago State University, certified by Jamar C. Orr, Associate General Counsel at the Office of Legal Affairs, Chicago State University, was submitted.
Other documents included data pages of Tinubu’s international passport, which displayed his travels to the US from 2011 to 2023.
A forwarding letter from the Labour Party (LP) for the submission of membership registration, dated April 25, 2022, and LP’s register of members for Anambra State were also provided.
Lastly, a copy of the report of the Committee on the Location of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Historical Bureau was submitted.
Additional Documents and References
Tinubu further presented a copy of form EC8D for Kano State, pertaining to the presidential election held on February 25, 2023.
An acknowledgement copy of Shettima’s voluntary withdrawal of candidacy from the Borno Central Senatorial District election, dated July 6, 2022, was also tendered.
The judgment of the Supreme Court in SC/CV/501/2023, which involved PDP vs. INEC and three others and was delivered on May 26, 2023, was included as well.
Finally, copies of page 28 and page 27 of the Nigerian Tribune Newspaper, both from February 23, 2023, were presented as supporting evidence.