Real truth emerges over viral claim tribunal judges were offered bribes to give judgement on 2023 election

• Claims have appeared online saying Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem said that Bola Tinubu had “failed”
• The poster said the 2023 presidential election petition tribunal had been offered tempting bribes
• A fact-checking platform investigated the claim and shared its findings in a report published on Friday, June 28

Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering politics and public journalism in Nigeria.

FCT, Abuja - A Facebook post attributed a controversial statement to Justice Monica Bolna'an Dongban-Mensem, the president of the court of appeal.

Legit.ng recalls that in September 2023, the presidential election tribunal rejected challenges by opposition leaders to Bola Ahmed Tinubu's win in the February 2023 disputed poll.

Bola Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar, and Peter Obi, were the top three candidates in the 2023 Nigerian presidential election. Photo credits: Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Atiku Abubakar, Mr. Peter Obi
Source: Facebook

The post reads:

PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy!

"Just In: I oversees (sic) the worst Presidential election petition since the history of Nigeria, the money offered to us, was what no judge can overlook, Tinubu failed woefully - Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem purportedly express regret.”

Verification of the claim about 2023 election

The claim can also be found here, and here.

But is it true that after the appeal court president said the 2023 presidential election tribunal was offered bribes? A fact-checking platform, Africa Check, investigated.

Following its scrutiny, the fact-checking platform ruled that there is no evidence that Justice Dongban-Mensem made the statement attributed to her.

More to read on 2023 election

• PDP, Labour Party pick holes as US finally endorses Tinubu's victory in 2023 election
• Why I am supporting President Tinubu, former Atiku's spokesperson, Bwala explains
• Fact checking claim suspects found with voters’ cards after 2023 presidential election are Igbos

Obi advised to move on from 2023 election

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the Middle-Belt Pan Nigerian Forum, representing a coalition of Civil Society Organisations, called upon Labour Party (LP) candidate, Peter Obi, to accept the results of the 2023 Nigerian general elections and proceed forward.

In a statement released by Danladi Ceceko, the spokesperson for the group, the coalition affirmed that the election outcomes, culminating in the triumph of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All-Progressives Congress (APC), mirrored the desires of the Nigerian populace.

Source: Legit.ng