Former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has strongly refuted allegations claiming that he is involved in writing the judgment for the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT).
The accusations were made by Twitter user Jackson Ude, who alleged that Fashola, along with some lawyers affiliated with the All Progressives Congress (APC), was drafting a judgment on behalf of the tribunal judges.
Ude posted, “Former Lagos State Governor and former Minister for Works, Babatunde Fashola, and some APC lawyers are allegedly writing the judgment Bola Tinubu and APC intends to hand over to the Presidential Elections Petition Tribunal.”
In response to these claims, Fashola’s Special Adviser on Media, Hakeem Bello, issued a statement on Sunday, dismissing the allegations as “baseless and defamatory.” He labeled those behind the accusations as “agents of destabilization,” asserting that there is no truth to their claims.
Fashola expressed his dismay over the rapid spread of this false information across social media platforms and called upon security agencies to take appropriate action against those responsible for spreading fake news.
“Fashola expressed his disappointment with the spread of this false information on social media platforms and has called on security agencies to take action against those responsible for spreading fake news,” the statement reads.
“In response to the allegation, Fashola clarified that he has been away from Abuja for an extended period of time, rendering the claims entirely unfounded.
“The former minister believes that these allegations may be part of a wider campaign to undermine the judiciary by those who seek to manipulate the institution for their own gain.
“He emphasizes the importance of unmasking the perpetrators and their sponsors and ensuring that they face the appropriate legal consequences.”
To address the situation, Fashola revealed that he has initiated the process of filing formal petitions against the offensive tweets and online reports with the management of X (formerly known as Twitter) and the National Communications Commission (NCC).
He called upon relevant security agencies to treat the matter with the utmost seriousness, as it poses a significant threat to judicial independence.
In light of the false accusations, Fashola urged Nigerians to disregard such harmful fabrications and encouraged them to report any individuals involved in spreading such dangerous falsehoods to the relevant security agencies.
The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, which had reserved judgment on the petition filed by Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), against President Bola Tinubu, is now at the center of this controversy.
Atiku is challenging the outcome of the February 25 election and seeking the nullification of Tinubu’s victory. Additionally, the tribunal also reserved judgment on the suit filed by Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), against Tinubu’s election.
As the situation unfolds, it remains crucial for authorities to investigate the veracity of the allegations and uphold the integrity of the judiciary throughout the electoral process. Nigerians are closely watching developments in this matter, eager to see justice prevail.
Comments are closed.