The Court of Appeal has finally provided the Certified True Copy (CTC) of its judgment dated September 6, 2023, to the legal team involved in a high-stakes case. The case involves three separate judgments and rulings totaling a substantial 798 pages.
However, this long-awaited release has been marred by controversy, with accusations of reluctance and secrecy on the part of the judges involved.
The legal teams representing the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party have accused the judges of withholding the judgment, describing it as a “sham.” In a strongly worded statement, they called for the immediate release of the judgment and questioned the reasons behind the delay, asking, “What are you afraid of?
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The clock is ticking, with just 11 days left to file appeals in this case. Lawyers for the PDP and Labour Party are expressing frustration at the alleged obstruction by the Court of Appeal judges, specifically naming Justices Tsammani and the tribunal judges.
According to reports, the judges have refused to provide copies of the Tribunal judgment to the legal counsels representing Peter Obi (Labour Party) and Atiku Abubakar (PDP) for the purpose of filing an appeal at the Supreme Court. This has led to accusations that the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) is deliberately trying to hinder the legal proceedings of the Labour Party and the PDP.
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In a twist to the saga, Ejes Gist Newspaper has confirmed that the CTC of the Appeal Court judgment has been released, after initial refusals. This development leaves many questions unanswered and adds further complexity to an already contentious legal battle.
As the legal teams for the PDP and the Labour Party rush to examine the contents of the judgment, the entire situation raises concerns about transparency, the integrity of the judicial process, and the quest for justice in this high-profile case. It remains to be seen how this controversy will impact the ongoing legal proceedings and the upcoming appeals at the Supreme Court.
