The Supreme Court has dismissed Atiku Abubakar’s plea to file fresh evidence against President Bola Tinubu. 

Justice Inyang Okoro delivered the verdict on Thursday during the hearing of the appeals filed against Bola Tinubu’s win at the Presidential Election Tribunal Court (PEPC).

Atiku, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had approached the court to grant him the leave to bring more evidence to establish that Tinubu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), submitted a forged certificate to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

READ ALSO: [LIVE] Supreme Court Delivers Judgment On 2023 Presidential Election

Atiku’s counsel, Chris Uche (SAN), said the 32-page document released to his client by the Chicago State University (CSU) on the academic records of Tinubu should be admitted in the interest of justice. The senior lawyer and his client had alleged that Tinubu’s academic records were fraught with discrepancies and forgeries.

However, Justice Okoro said the time frame to admit such evidence has elapsed. He cited Section 285(5) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which provides for the PEPC to hear and determine all petitions arising from the presidential election.

He said since the 180 days had expired on September 17, the Supreme Court had no jurisdiction to admit the document.

The apex court thereafter dismissed Atiku’s appeal and affirmed Tinubu’s electoral victory.