A prominent civil society group, the Electoral Integrity and Good Governance Initiative, has called on the Supreme Court to prioritize the relevance of evidence over its source in the ongoing Kogi State gubernatorial election dispute. As the apex court prepares to review and hear the case, the group emphasizes the importance of considering all relevant evidence, regardless of its origin, to ensure substantial justice in the highly contentious legal battle.
In a statement issued and made available to press, Spokesperson of the group, Barrister Aishat Ohunene, cites six critical rulings by the Supreme Court that uphold the principle of prioritizing relevance in evidence consideration.
According to her; “These rulings emphasize that admissible evidence should be determined by its relevance to the case rather than its source.” The group argues that dwelling on the origin of evidence may lead to the exclusion of crucial information and potentially result in an unjust outcome.
“As the Kogi State gubernatorial election case remains a subject of legal contention, it is essential to revisit the Supreme Court’s consistent stance on prioritizing relevance in evidence consideration. In doing so, we examine six critical rulings that uphold this principle and underscore its significance in the pursuit of substantial justice.
1. Okeowo v. Migliore (2018) 12 NWLR (Pt. 1635) 31:
“The admissibility of evidence is determined by its relevance, not its source.”
2. Ogboru v. Uduaghan (2011) 4 NWLR (Pt. 1237) 393:
“Relevance is the hallmark of admissibility of evidence. If evidence is relevant, it is admissible, regardless of its source.”
3. Nwosu v. Uba (2014) 14 NWLR (Pt. 1426) 1:
“The court should consider the relevance of evidence, not its origin. Evidence is admissible if it is relevant to the facts in issue.”
4. Akinloye v. Eyitayo (2007) 18 NWLR (Pt. 1066) 457:
“The source of evidence does not determine its admissibility. What matters is the relevance of the evidence to the facts in dispute.”
5. Okoro v. State (2018) 13 NWLR (Pt. 1632) 1:
“Evidence is admissible if it is relevant, regardless of how it was obtained. The court should focus on the relevance, not the source.”
6. Ogbunyiya v. Okudo (2019) 16 NWLR (Pt. 1698) 1:
“The admissibility of evidence depends on its relevance, not its sources. Relevant evidence is admissible, even if it comes from a questionable source.”
The Electoral Integrity and Good Governance Initiative believes that prioritizing relevance over the source of evidence will be key to delivering a just and fair verdict in the Kogi State gubernatorial election case. As the Supreme Court weighs the evidence presented, its decision will not only impact the citizens of Kogi State but also serve as a precedent for future elections and legal disputes across Nigeria.
