Mr. Phrank Shaibu, the Special Adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has criticized the Presidential Election Petitions Court for not providing the certified true copies (CTCs) of its judgment to Atiku Abubakar promptly, following the verdict delivered three days earlier. Atiku and his legal team have only 14 days to file their appeal with the Supreme Court based on the judgment.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday, Shaibu expressed his dissatisfaction, stating that the delay in providing the CTCs is undermining Atiku’s pursuit of justice and the interests of Nigerians.
Shaibu also reminded the tribunal of its previous emphasis on strict adherence to time schedules set by the court. He pointed out that the tribunal had dismissed some of Atiku’s witnesses’ testimonies during the initial proceedings because their statements on oath were filed out of time.
Shaibu argued that the lawyers representing Atiku and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) need time to review the judgment as contained in the CTC, which represents the official pronouncements made in court. This is essential for formulating their case before filing it with the Supreme Court.
He expressed concern over the alleged typos and errors in the judgment, suggesting that the tribunal should have waited until the following week to deliver the judgment instead of rushing it. Shaibu criticized the tribunal for what he sees as an anti-democratic act, as it has effectively consumed three precious days out of the 14-day time limit for Atiku to file his processes with the Supreme Court.
In summary, Mr. Phrank Shaibu criticized the Presidential Election Petitions Court for not promptly providing the certified true copies of its judgment to Atiku Abubakar, potentially jeopardizing his ability to file an appeal with the Supreme Court within the required timeframe.