FAKE NEWS ALERT: NJC debunks alleged resignation of presidential tribunal judge

Soji Oye, director of information, National Judicial Council (NJC), says Boloukuoromo Ugo, justice of the court of appeal, has not withdrawn his membership of the presidential election petition court.

Umar Sani, a Twitter user, claimed that Ugo tendered his resignation after citing “demands to knee-cap democracy”.

Sani alleged that the judge, in his letter, stated that he was asked to “cripple the independence of the judiciary” by ruling in favour of a certain political candidate believed to be President Bola Tinubu.

“Justice Ugo’s resignation has caused a serious uproar and a setback to the activities of the presidential election petition court,” Sani said.

However, speaking with TheCable on Thursday, Oye described the claims as “falsehood from the pit of hell”.

He said the allegations should be disregarded, adding that the aim is to distract Nigerians and set the tone for a narrative, in the event that the court’s judgement doesn’t favour the rumour peddlers.

Oye said the presidential election petition court will issue a formal statement to address the issues.

When contacted, Josephine Ekperobe, secretary of the presidential tribunal, said the story is “fake”.

She said she spent time with the judge yesterday and that as of Thursday, she is yet to be informed of the judge’s purported resignation.

SUPREME COURT REACTS TO REPORTS THAT TINUBU SPOKE WITH CJN 

Ugo’s alleged resignation is coming barely 48 hours after Jackson Ude, a Twitter user, reported that the president spoke with Olukayode Ariwoola, chief justice of Nigeria (CJN), over the outcome of the presidential election petition.

Ude alleged that the CJN told Tinubu to prepare for a rerun of the election.

However, Festus Akande, spokesperson of the supreme court, said there was “no iota of truth” in the claim.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) also denied the allegation by Ude.