A retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Mary Peter-Odili has distanced herself from an allegation that she is influencing judges of the court of appeal and the Supreme Court to ensure that President Bola Tinubu gets a favourable judgment at the Presidential election petition tribunal.

The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, flagbearer of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) are challenging Tinubu’s victory in the presidential election held on the 25th of February, 2023.

A Twitter user, Jackson Ude had alleged that Peter-Odili is helping Tinubu secure a favourable judgement at the tribunal.

Reacting to the allegation in a press statement signed by her spokesperson, Felix Enebeli, Odili described the claim as “false and malicious”.

The statement reads, “While the defamation arising from the false allegation has been referred to the lawyers of her lordship to deal with in accordance with the law, we consider it appropriate, particularly for the sake of the public, to issue this unequivocal denial of the false allegation.

“We deny every allegation contained in the publication and state that the publication is false, malicious, mischievous and a deliberate attempt at smearing the integrity and solid reputation of her lordship.

“We say nothing of the fact that the publication has the potential of inciting the public against her lordship on an issue of grave national importance.

“For the records, her lordship is neither a judicial consultant to anyone nor is she in any way connected with or involved in any of the presidential election petitions or any other election petition whatsoever. The public is hereby urged to disbelieve, disregard and ignore this false publication”.

Enebeli added that Odili’s lawyers are on the issue and have demanded a retraction and public apology from Ude.

According to Enebeli, a redress would be sought in court if Ude failed to retract the story.