FACT CHECK: Did Justice Ugo resign from PEPT over pressure to support Tinubu?

A news report has surfaced claiming that Hon. Justice Boloukuoromo Moses Ugo has resigned as a member of the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPT) panel.

The alleged resignation comes amid alleged demands from the executive branch that he believes would undermine Nigeria’s democracy.

According to the report published on the forum Nairaland, Justice Ugo tendered his resignation via a statement.

In the statement, he allegedly expressed concerns that siding with the government on certain matters would be detrimental to the country’s democratic principles.

He allegedly cited his unwillingness to compromise the independence of the judiciary by ruling in favor of a particular political candidate, widely speculated to be Bola Tinubu.

Furthermore, the report claims that Justice Ugo was asked to suppress evidence and dismiss cases that could potentially impact the outcome of the 2023 presidential election, which is currently being challenged in court by Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP.

VERIFICATION?
However, efforts by IDOMA VOICE to verify the authenticity of the news have been inconclusive, as no reliable source has confirmed the alleged resignation.

JUSTICE UGO KEEPS MUM
As of now, Justice Ugo has neither confirmed nor denied the reported resignation. The PEPT panel has also not issued any statements regarding the matter.

WHO JUSTICE UGO?
Hon. Justice Boloukuoromo Moses Ugo is a distinguished Nigerian judge known for his contributions to the legal field. He has served on the PEPT panel and the Court of Appeal, with a total of 17 years on the bench and 33 years in the legal profession.

VERDICT – Unconfirmed
While the report has caused uproar and raised concerns about the independence of the judiciary, it remains unconfirmed until official statements or reliable sources verify the news. As the public awaits clarification, the situation remains speculative and subject to further investigation.

Tweeps react to alleged resignation of Justice Ugo