Osun Election Petition Tribunal Update: APC and INEC finally closes their case. The Petitioners counsel were shocked to be bone marrow today by the decision of the 2nd and 3rd Respondents to close their case having thought the 2nd respondent will continue with calling of more witnesses. According to the Counsel for the 2nd respondent, Ajibola Basiru Esq, having critically examine the petition of the petitioners and the quality of evidence led, vis a vis the evidence led by the witnesses we have called so far, we are convinced beyond doubt that the evidence called so far is adequate and sufficient as petitioners have not made out any case against any of the respondents in this case to warrant calling additional witnesses. It is in line with with this that the 2nd respondent formally close her case today 5th January, 2015 The 3rd Respondents Counsel, Ayotunde Ogunleye Esq,opened his case immediately by tendering Certified True Copy of Forms EC8E; Distribution lists of Permanent Voters Card and Certificate of identification of the distribution list in compliance with S.84 of the Evidence Act. The first two documents were not objected to but the 3rd document was objected to by the learned counsel for the petitioners, N.O.O Ole SAN on the basis that it was not listed. However, all the 3 documents rendered were admitted and marked as Exhibit 395,396 and 397 respectively. Having admitted the documents sought to be tendered, INEC counsel announced the close of their case of the petitioners and the testimonies of their witnesses and found that there is no need to call further oral evidence. The court now announced that all the respondents have 10days to file their written address, 7 days for the petitioners to reply while the respondents have 5 days on reply on points of law. The last day of the filing will be 27th January, 2015. The court thereafter adjourned the proceedings to 28th January, 2015 for the adoption of written address. While fielding question from the members of the press after the proceedings, Ajibola Basiru Esq said that the case made out by the petitioners is hopeless and the petition itself is an irritant as they have failed woefully to discharge the onus placed on them. According to him, the Petitioners challenged 965 polling units in their petition but call evidence in only 239 polling units thereby abandoned their pleadings in respect of 726 polling units. Assuming the quality of evidence led is credible, it is not enough to sway judgment in their favour because the 239 polling units where evidence were led represents 7.94% of the 3,010 polling units contained in the state. To show the total hopelessness of the case, he gave a breakdown of evidence led in some local government Fir instance, in Ayedaade Local Government,the Petitioners called only 2 witnesses from ward 4 who is a superior and a polling agent for ward 3 unit 7. In Atakunmosa East Local Government, the Petitionerscalled only 1 witness, a polling agent in ward 2 unit 1. Boripe Local Government, Petitioners called only one witness, a supervisor for ward 4 Isale Oyo. Ede North,only one witness and one witness in Ilesa East and Irepodun Local Government respectively. He also stated that the evidence of expert called by the petitioners is so worthless because during cross_examination they admitted wrong entries in their reports. On the part of INEC counsel while fielding questions from the press assured the good people of Osun that justice will be done at the end of the day to the satisfaction of all lovers of free,fair and credible election.
Posted on: Mon, 05 Jan 2015 18:25:44 +0000
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