Reports of Supreme Court Judges withdrawal from Presidential Petitions false

By Samuel Ogunsona

Widespread reports that some Judges of the Supreme Court have excused themselves from the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal is fake, a Judge of the Supreme Court has informed Irohinoodua.

A Judge of the Supreme Court who chatted with our correspondent in Abuja during an event said the reports were “cooked up” to embarass the judiciary. He said he does not want his name in print.

Speaking exclusively to our correspondent he said the truth was that some of the Judges had reached the mandatory age of retirement and had to quit the stage.

He said for instance, Justice Musa Dattijo is getting ready to retire on October 27 when he will be 70.

He said earlier, Justice Amina Ugie had left the bench on September 22 due to her reaching the retirement age of 70.

He said earlier, Justice Chima Nweze had died on July 30. He was aged 64.

He said ” The reports are false.No single judge has recluse.”

He said the Supreme Court is expected to have 21 Judges but currently has 11 and that it would soon be reduce to 10 after the exit of Justice Dattijo.

There were viral reports that some Judges of the Supreme Court had withdrawn from the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson of the Supreme Court, Dr Festus Akande in a statement this week notified the country that Justice Dattijo would retire at the end of the month.

He said “the valedictory Court session to mark the retirement of Justice Musa Dattijo Mohammad from the Supreme Court bench comes up on Friday, 27th October, 2023 at the Main Courtroom of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.”

He said the Special Court Session will be presided over by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola who is expected to eulogise the retiring Judge.

Dattijo hails from Chanchage Local Government Area of Niger State.

He was born on October 27 in 1953.