PROFILE OF THE 5-MAN PANEL AT THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION PETITIONS TRIBUNAL
The now-constituted Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) will adjudicate on all petitions filed against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its Chairman Mahmoud Yakubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and disputed winners of the 2023 Presidential Election, President-Elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President-Elect, Kassim Shettima.
The INEC on March 1 announced the following results:
Bola Tinubu/APC – 8,794,726 votes
Atiku Abubakar/PDP – 6,984,520 votes
Peter Obi/LP – 6,101,533 votes
Section 285 of the 1999 CFRN empowers the Tribunal to deliver judgement within a finite period.
285(5): An election petition shall be filed within 21 days after the date of the declaration of result of the elections
285(6): An election tribunal shall deliver its judgment in writing within 180 days from the date of the filing of the petition
.
In lay terms, judgement must be delivered on or before September 17, 2023.
A PROFILE ON THE JUDGES SITTING AT THE 2023 PEPT
1. Hon. Justice Haruna Simon TSAMMANI
Born on 23rd November 1959, he hails from Tafawa Balewa LGA of Bauchi State.
Tsammani obtained his LL.B degree from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1982. He attended the Nigerian Law School, Lagos for his BL in 1983.
He was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Bauchi State on 17th September 1998 and later elevated to the Court of Appeal on July 16, 2010.
He served as the Chairman of the three-man panel that granted Obi and Atiku’s motions to serve Tinubu their petitions by substituted means.
He also presided on the VAT case between the Rivers State Govt and the FG.
He prepared the judgement in Ajimobi v Balogun, affirming the election of Kola Balogun as Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District in 2019.
He is ranked 12th on the Seniority list of the Court of Appeal.
He will serve as Chairman of the Panel.
2. Hon. Justice Stephen Jonah ADAH
Born on 13th June 1957, he hails from Dekina LGA of Kogi State.
Adah obtained his LL.B degree from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1981. He attended the Nigerian Law School, Lagos for his BL in 1982.
He was appointed a Judge of the Federal High Court on 12th November 1998 and later elevated to the Court of Appeal on November 05, 2012.
He served as a member of the three-man panel that granted Obi and Atiku’s motions to serve Tinubu their petitions by substituted means..
Adah led the panel that affirmed Ifeanyi Ubah as a Senator after his sack over alleged certificate forgery.
He also led the panel that affirmed Valentine Ozigbo as the PDP Guber Candidate for the Anambra Governorship Election.
He is ranked 22nd on the Seniority list of the Court of Appeal.
3. Hon. Justice Mistura Omodere BOLAJI-YUSUF
Born on 07th August 1959, she hails from Oyo West LGA of Oyo State.
Bolaji-Yusuf obtained her LL.B degree from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in 1983. She attended the Nigerian Law School the following year for her BL Certificate.
She was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Oyo State on 30th January 1997, and later elevated to the Court of Appeal on March 24, 2014.
She was on the panel that affirmed that Candidates of the Obaseki-faction were the authentic Candidates to participate in the 2023 Elections.
She is ranked 31st on the roll call of the Court of Appeal.
4. Hon. Justice Boloukuoromo Moses UGO
Born on 07th June 1965, he hails from Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA of Bayelsa State.
Ugo obtained his LL.B degree from the University of Calabar in 1989 before proceeding to the Nigerian Law School in Lagos the following year, for his BL Certificate.
He was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Bayelsa State on 21st March 2006, and later elevated to the Court of Appeal on March 24, 2014.
He is ranked 44th on the roll call of the Court of Appeal.
5. Hon. Justice Abba Bello MOHAMMED
Born on 19th February 1961, he hails from Kano State.
Mohammed obtained his LL.B degree from the Institute of Administration, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1984 before proceeding to the Nigerian Law School in Lagos the following year, for his BL Certificate.
He was appointed a Judge of the High Court of the FCT on 15th July 2010, and later elevated to the Court of Appeal on June 28, 2021.
He served as a member of the three-man panel that granted Obi and Atiku’s motions to serve Tinubu their petitions by substituted means..
Mohammed was Chairman of the Nasarawa State Governorship Petitions Tribunal that dismissed the case filed by David Ombugadu against Governor Abdullahi Sule in 2019.
He is ranked 71st of the 76 Judges on the roll call of the Court of Appeal.
(Culled from Port Harcourt Political Affairs)
