Drama as SDP lead counsel allegedly resorts to self help, violence against APC star witness »

There was a mild drama at the November 11 Gubernatorial election tribunal session in Abuja on Thursday as the lead counsel of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Pius Ademu Akubo (SAN) was obviously frustrated by the performance of the star witness of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Barr. Sunday Ehimoni Joshua allegedly resorted to self help and violence in court against the APC witness.

The very embarrassing event according to eye witness took the intervention of other lawyers to restrain the SDP lead counsel from pouncing on the APC star witness which was to the utmost shock and displeasure of the seated Judges.

Another eye witness who was present in court narrated that in what appeared like an unprecedented contempt of court, the SDP lead counsel, who was leading the cross examination of APC’s star witness, became emotional and could not hide his utmost displeasure at the negative turn of events for the SDP’s case after disappointing encounter with the APC star witness.

The eye witness further narrated that “the event took a controversial turn during the cross examination when the SDP lead counsel had posed the question as to when the the SDP filed its petition against the APC.

The APC star witness, Bar. Ehimoni responded that the date of the filing was the date payment was made in respect of the process filed” and not the date written on the document.

The APC star witness further clarified that, the payment for the process filed authenticates the process filed itself therefore the date of payment is also the date of the filing by law.

The APC’s star witness to the dismay of the lead counsel of the SDP conveniently confirmed and defended over 70 documents tendered by the All progressive Congress in defence of the mandate of the Kogi state Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Ododo and was also able to successfully discredit all the over 50 documents presented by the SDP.

Governor Ododo’s star witness bursted SDP’s rigging activities in Abocho, Iyale, Igala Mela, Ofu and Ankpa. It could be recalled that on the 18th of April 2024 , reports from the tribunal proceeding hinted that P B. Daudu, a defense counsel to Governor Ododo, tendered documents to the tribunal , which alleged monumental election fraud, rigging, ballots stuffing and over voting in Kogi East, and across some polling units,Wards, which are scattered across 8 LGA’s.

In Thursday’s court hearing Governor Ododo star witness, who was also the head, and leader of all the APC polling unit agents in the said election informed the tribunal, based on the report he collated from his field agents from Kogi East, thereby affirming the documents tendered by P.B. Daudu on the monumental election fraud perpetrated by SDP in Kogi East .

APC’s witness also contested the allegation of over voting claimed by SDP against Governor Ododo, with regards to INEC’s declaration of results from Okene, Adavi, Okehi, some parts of Ajaokuta LGA and Lokoja LGA respectively.

Similarly the APC’s star witness dismissed the allegation of forgery with regards to the sworn affidavit of declaration of age by Governor Ododo.

He mentioned to the tribunal, that Governor Ododo did his declaration of age affidavit in Okene LGA not at the Federal High Court , Abuja.

The Tribunal has adjourned sitting to the 13th of May, 2024 for adoption of written addresses by parties.