The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) has accepted the submission of various documents by Peter Obi, the Labour Party candidate in the 2023 presidential election, to support his petition against President Bola Tinubu. Obi contested the election results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which proclaimed Tinubu as the winner and subsequently inaugurated him as President on May 29.
The crucial evidence, tendered on Tuesday in Abuja by Obi’s first witness, Mr. Lawrence Nwakaeti, included a judgment from a United States District Court. This particular judgment allegedly indicted Tinubu and ordered the forfeiture of $460,000 in connection with a drug-related offense. Nwakaeti, a registered voter from Anambra who participated in the election, testified before the court about his firsthand knowledge.
However, objections were raised by the respondents’ counsel regarding the admissibility of the document as evidence. These objections were noted for discussion during the final address stage. Mr. Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), representing Obi, guided Nwakaeti during his testimony.
During cross-examination by Tinubu’s counsel, Mr. Wole Olanipekun (SAN), Nwakaeti admitted that the judgment had not been officially registered in Nigeria. Additionally, the witness acknowledged that no certificate from either a Nigerian or U.S. Consular supported the judgment, but it had been obtained and certified by the custodian of the document. Nwakaeti emphasized that he had personally visited the United States and read the judgment in its entirety, expressing surprise if it did not mention Tinubu’s forfeiture of $460,000.
Further questioning from Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the counsel for the All Progressives Congress (APC), focused on the certification of the judgment by a U.S. police officer and a clearance report from the United States embassy regarding the alleged indictment and forfeiture. Nwakaeti responded that he did not possess any certificate from the police and was unaware of any such report.
Interestingly, Nwakaeti clarified that the judgment did not contain specific charges against Tinubu, as it stemmed from a civil forfeiture proceeding rather than a criminal case.
As Nwakaeti concluded his testimony as the sole witness for the petitioner on that day, Justice Haruna Tsammani, the Chairman of the Court, adjourned further proceedings on the petition until the following day, Wednesday.