Stop Engaging In Media Trials Before Court Ruling – Supreme Court Tells Atiku, Obi

The Supreme Court, on Thursday, slammed Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) for engaging in media trial and reaching conclusions before court rulings.

A ruling read by the presiding justice of the seven-man panel, Justice John Okoro, dismissed the argument made by Atiku and the PDP that the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) used disparaging words against them.

Okoro said the tribunal didn’t use disparaging words against the appellants in its judgement evincing hostility and bias against the appellants, thereby violating their right to a fair hearing.

He ruled, “I have read the judgement of the court below and I have seen the contexts for which those words were used and it is my view that they were not meant to disparage the appellants or their counsel.

“As judges, we are trained to be temperate in our use of words and we shall continue to do so. Litigants are advised to trust the court whenever their matters are before it. It is very unbecoming these days that while a matter is pending in court, litigants engage in press conferences, analysing the case, and reaching conclusions.

“Based on this, some of their followers send threatening messages to judges and justices; matters in court are said to be sub judice.”