The Supreme Court has constituted the panel that will sit on all appeals filed against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) and disputed winners of the 2023 Presidential Election, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President, Kassim Shettima.
Recall, that the Justice Tsammani-led Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal on September 06, dismissed the petitions of Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Peter Gregory Obi & Labour Party and Atiku Abubakar & the PDP challenging the return of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
It is to be noted that Atiku Abubakar also filed in ‘fresh’ evidence surrounding the eligibility of Bola Tinubu and the Chicago State University depositions.
Hearing on all appeals begin today.
HON. JUSTICE JOHN INYANG OKORO JSC (Chairman of the Panel)
Justice Okoro was born on 11th July 1959 and hails from Nung Ukim, Ikono LGA of Akwa Ibom State.
He attended Methodist School Nung Ukim and Boys High School Oron for his Primary and Secondary Education between 1965 and 1977. He obtained a Diploma from the School of Arts and Science, Uyo in 1981.
He obtained his LL.B degree from the University of Lagos in 1984, proceeded to the Nigerian Law School in Lagos and was called to the Nigerian Bar on 21st August, 1985.
His legal career began as a Magistrate Grade 11 in 1986 and rose through various positions to the post of Chief Magistrate Grade 1 in 1996. He was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Akwa Ibom State in 1998.
He served as Member of different Election Petitions Tribunal in Kano (1998), Governorship & National Assembly in Ondo (2003) and subsequently Delta in 2003.
He was elevated to the Appeal Court bench on 8th June, 2006 and subsequently to the Supreme Court on 15th November, 2013.
He was one of the two Justices of the Supreme Court arrested by the State Security Services (SSS) on October 8, 2016 on allegations of bribery and corruption, though not charged, the SSS later cleared him and he resumed his duties at the apex court subsequently on June 3, 2017.
He was one of four Judges who affirmed the re-election of Rotimi Akeredolu as Governor of Ondo State after the PDP had faulted his nomination.
He was also a member of the Supreme Court bench that affirmed the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019.
He was a member of the Supreme Court bench that disqualified the Bayelsa Governor-Elect, David Lyon following his Deputy’s failed nomination.
He was one of the dissenters in the Lagos State Hijab suit.