PEPC slams ‘false’ report of Judge being pressured to ‘cripple’ democracy
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Media report of the resignation of Justice Boloukuoromo Ugo from the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) is false and should discounted, the PEPC has clarified, denying allegation of Bola Tinubu’s meddling in the judiciary.
News of the alleged resignation broke on the internet on Thursday, citing attempts by the President “to kneecap democracy”.
The report said Ugo resigned from over alleged pressure from the executive branch that he believes would destroy Nigeria’s democracy.
The online platform quoted a statement purportedly issued by Ugo in which he allegedly warned that taking sides with Aso Rock on the petitions challenging Tinubu’s election would be the “death of Nigeria’s democracy” and he could not, in good conscience, remain silent.
Ugo’s purported disclosed in the statement that he was asked to “cripple the independence of the judiciary” by ruling in favour of a certain political candidate, whom he did not name but is widely believed to be Tinubu.
The report said he was asked to suppress evidence and dismiss cases that could have an impact on the election.
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Court Registrar tells public to dismiss report
Appeal Court Chief Registrar Umar Mohammed Bangari insisted the report is false and that no Justice resigned from the Court of Appeal, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Bangari appealed to the general public to ignore the fake news.
PREMIUM TIMES reports Appeal Court Deputy Registrar Kabir Akanbi also reiterating “it is not true that my Lord, Honourable Justice Ugo resigned from the Presidential Election Petition Court.”
Bangari said Ugo is still on the PEPC handling petitions filed by the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The petitioners are seeking nullification of Tinubu’s election on several legal grounds, including alleged identity theft, certificate forgery, and perjury.
