In every country worldwide, the Supreme Court is the endit of every litigation, legal and constitutional interpretation – the last bus stop. So when any matter gets to the Supreme Court and the justices decide, that is the end of it.
So it is with the challenge by the PDP and its flag bearer in the 2019 presidential election in Nigeria Atiku Abubakar over the declaration of Muhammadu Buhari as winner. The Supreme Court yesterday threw out the appeal for lacking in merit.
The seven-member panel made up of Chief Justice Tanko Mohammed, Justices Bode Rhodes-Vivour, Amiru Sanusi, Uwani Abaji, Ejembi Eko, John Inyang Okoro and Olukayode Ariwoola said they found no merit in the appeal of the Peoples Democratic Party and Atiku Abubakar. The court therefore dismissed the appeal and said that its reasons for the dismissal will be given later.
And that is it.
Final. Finito. Complete. Termination. Fullstop. Ofone. Closure. Conclusion. Determined. Period. The End!
That is the power of the Supreme Court anywhere. You cannot go to ECOWAS Court, Court of Arbitration, World Court, Tennis or Squash Court!
In a sense, the Supreme Court is like the most powerful of all the levels and arms of government because it is also its duty to ensure that each branch of government recognizes the limits of its own power. It can even overturn a law passed by the National Assembly if it deems such law unconstitutional because the constitution supersedes all other laws as interpreted by the Court.
The Supreme Court is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts in many legal jurisdictions. Supreme courts typically function primarily as appellate courts, hearing appeals from decisions of lower trial courts, or from intermediate-level appellate courts.
As the Supreme Court functions as a last resort body, its rulings cannot be appealed. It also decides on cases dealing with the interpretation of the constitution.
The Supreme Court of Nigeria was established on October 1, 1963 and is composed of the Chief Justice and not more than 21 other Justices appointed by the President of the Federal Republic on the recommendation of the National Judicial Council, (NJC) and subject to confirmation by the Senate.
Justices of the Supreme Court must be qualified to practice law in Nigeria, and must have been so qualified for a period not less than fifteen years. Such Justices have a mandatory retirement age of 70 years. From their ages, qualifications and years of experience, the Justices of the Supreme Court must be regarded as men and women of wisdom.
As the nation and indeed the whole world await the details and reasons why the Atiku Abubakar and PDP appeal did not succeed in the apex court, one thing is clear – whoever is affected by this judgement must accept it for what it is – the final bus stop.
IMAGE CREDIT: BBC.com, Shola Ogunshola.
Epa Ogie Eboigbe, veteran journalist, broadcaster and public affairs specialist writes on, and analyses current and historical issues with a ‘wise pen.
Supreme Court ruling is always final but in a country so unashamedly corrupt and unpatriotic,such rulings are usually taken with a pinch of salt, hahahaha if only the judiciary is independent, glorious as it ought to be with the interest of the country as primary their ruling would have been more convincing.
Truly, that is the final stop. The judges of the Supreme Court should always remember that God is the final arbiter and they should always give judgement with that behind their minds. They should pray to God to help them in taking decisions that affect people’s lives.
Personally I would have advised PDP not to probe any further judging from their failure in the lower courts.