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Thu, Mar

Media Prosecution: Presidential Election Tribunal Warn Speculators

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The President of the Court of Appeal, Zainab Bulkachuwa, is set to deal with lawyers, petitioners and media houses found speculating the outcome of the petition before the tribunal.

 

Mrs. Bulkachiwa disclosed that any lawyer found analyzing and speculating the petition outcome shall be dealt with squarely by the court.

 

The court president issued this warning during the inauguration session of the tribunal on Wednesday in Abuja.

 

According to her, any analysis or speculation before the outcome of judgement is detrimental to the tribunal.

 

In her statement, “We are all living witnesses to most trending issues especially when high profile cases are involved, such cases are being discussed and publicly speculated prematurely, either in the social and electronic media before the pronouncement of the court verdict.

 

Consequently, the court wishes to make it clear that it would not tolerate any of such speculation from either of the council to both parties as doing such will jeopardize the case in the public domain thereby heating up the polity.

 

She added that the appeal is being extended to parties, their respective counsel and the Lamberts of the press. We on our part will make relevant information available as at when due. Contrary to that will attract sanction and we will not hesitate in taking action against offenders.

 

Mrs. Bulkachuwa further stated that about 786 petitions are before the various tribunals, with those from Imo State topping the list with 74 petitions.

 

The tribunal began hearing in four major petitions filled at the court. The court fixed the dates for the hearing of three of the petitions while no date was given for the fourth.

 

The presidential tribunal is expected to determine the cases, including the petition filed by the candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar, who alleged that the 2019 presidential election was massively rigged in favor of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

 

Although Atiku was absent at the tribunal on Wednesday, while his running mate, Peter Obi, was present at the court.

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