‘In separate statements issued on Monday, both institutions moved quickly to set the record straight and warn against the spread of misinformation about judicial officers’
By our Correspondent
The National Judicial Council, NJC, and the Court of Appeal have jointly debunked viral social media reports claiming that members of the 2023 Presidential Election Petition Tribunal are either dead or incapacitated, describing the allegations as “baseless, malicious and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.”
The false claims, which spread widely online over the weekend, alleged that two of the five justices who upheld President Bola Tinubu’s election had died, while a third had lost his sight. The reports targeted the panel that delivered the tribunal’s judgment in September 2023, dismissing petitions challenging the outcome of the February 25 presidential poll.
In separate statements issued on Monday, both institutions moved quickly to set the record straight and warn against the spread of misinformation about judicial officers.
“None of the five Justices of the Presidential Election Petition Court is dead. None is blind. All of them are alive, well and carrying out their judicial duties,” the NJC said in a statement signed by its Director of Information.
The Court of Appeal echoed the position, urging Nigerians to disregard the reports and cautioning that publishing or circulating fake news about judges amounts to contempt and erodes public confidence in the judiciary.
The five-member tribunal was led by Justice Haruna Tsammani.
In its September 2023 ruling, the panel dismissed the petitions filed against the Independent National Electoral Commission’s declaration of President Tinubu as winner of the election. Since then, the justices have continued with other judicial assignments across the appellate court system.
Legal experts and civil society organizations have condemned the online claims, warning that targeting judges with falsehoods poses a threat to judicial independence. They noted that such narratives are often designed to incite distrust in court decisions and intimidate judicial officers carrying out their constitutional responsibilities.
“The judiciary cannot function effectively if judges are subjected to deliberate falsehoods aimed at discrediting them or creating the impression that they are no longer capable of service,” a senior lawyer in Abuja said.
“These are officers of the court, and their safety, reputation and independence must be protected.”
The NJC said it has asked security agencies to investigate the origin of the fake reports and bring those responsible to account. The Council also advised the public to verify information from official channels before sharing content relating to the judiciary.
As of press time, officials confirmed that all five justices of the 2023 Presidential Election Petition Tribunal remain alive, in good health, and are actively engaged in judicial duties.
