*Say the Court is not a theatre, crusade, or Big Brother Naija
The Presidential Election Petition Court sitting in Abuja has reserved ruling on the request of PDP presidential candidate in the 2023 election, Abubakar Atiku for live telecast of his petition challenging the declaration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as winner.
The court reserved the ruling on the matter to a later date which is to be communicated to the parties after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) all kicked against the application.
Arguing his brief, counsel to the applicant, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), posited that “the matter is of national importance and public interest, involving citizens and voters in the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, who voted and participated in the said election; including the International Community who have regards to the workings of Nigeria’s Electoral Process”.
Therefore, Uche relied on and adopted his written addresses and replies to point of law as his arguments and prayed to the court for an order allowing the live coverage of the proceeding given its monumental national importance, as well as an order directing the modality for its implementation.
“The nation is interested in the matter and we have nothing to suppress. We urge you to consider the issues raised.
“The fact that it has not been done before does not mean it cannot be done now. Recall the Oputa Panel was broadcasted live and the nation benefited from it.
“If the results of the election were not transmitted live, at least let the proceeding be transmitted live,” he said.
In their arguments, the Respondents, in their separate objections, insisted that the solemn nature of the court would be put in jeopardy if granted.
Tinubu, in his vehement objections raised by Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), said that Atiku’s request was not only surprising but dangerous as it was capable of prejudicing the Court itself.
Olanipekun prayed to discountenance Atiku’s move to turn the Court into a football stadium, a crusade ground a theatre, or a film ground where all manner of telecast could be permitted.
He further asked the Court not to grant an order that it cannot be enforced or supervised, adding that the present moment is not the best time for such a request to be granted.
Olanipekun warned that the request if granted could expose judicial officers to avoidable dangers and demanded that heavy costs be imposed on Atiku for making the request.
“We urge you to dispose of the application with a cost. It is very intriguing and surprising that the motion was brought here.
“The court is not a theatre, stadium or crusade ground. We are here for serious business.
“We pray my lords not to make an order he cannot enforce and supervise.”
On his part, Counsel to the APC, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, faulted the request, adding that the facility and policy documents are not there for the application to be granted.
He said that Atiku failed to disclose injuries he would suffer if the request was not granted, adding that at the moment, nobody, including Atiku had not complained of inadequate coverage of the proceedings so far.
Fagbemi insisted that Atiku did not deserve to be granted the request, adding that the court proceeding is not Big Brother Naija.
“The application is annoying. This is the fifth time we are conducting presidential elections.
“There is no allegation that there is no adequate coverage of the proceeding as required by law.
“There is a difference between a trial for the public and a trial in public. I adopted trial for public. It will be like opening a floodgate if my lords grant the request. This is not the Big Brother Naija that requires live coverage,” the APC lawyer submitted.
Similarly, counsel to the INEC, Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud SAN said that Courtroom is for serious business and not a marketplace where anything goes, adding that the request for live coverage is unnecessary and uncalled for and should not be granted.
Asking the court to dismiss the application, he described it as unnecessary, uncalled for and a move to defect the essence of the administration of justice.
“The courtroom is for serious business and not a theatrics space.
“We are very committed and serious and committed and do not want to be subjected to more pressure with cameras in our faces,” Mahmoud submitted.
In the meantime, Justice Haruna Tsammani has reserved a ruling on whether to grant Atiku’s request or not.
