OSUN ELECTION TRIBINAL UPDATE: APC AND INEC finally close their case . The Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Osogbo was pleasantly surprised by the decision of the 2nd (APC)and 3rd respondents (INEC) to close their case having thought they will be busy taking more witnesses from the 2nd and 3rd respondents. 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 this that the 2nd respondent formally close her case today 8th January,2014. 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 Oke SAN on the basis that it was not pleaded. However, all the 3 documents tendered 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 having evaluate the 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 10 days to file their written address, 7 days for the Petitioners to reply while the respondent have 5 days on reply on points of law. The last day for the filling will be 27th January,2015. The court thereafter adjourned the sitting till 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 abandoning their pleadings in respect of 726 polling units. Assuming the quality of evidence led is credible, is it enough to sway the judgment in their favour? 239 polling units 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 called in some local governments. For instance, in Ayedaade Local Government, the Petitioners called only 2 witnesses, ward 4 supervisor and polling agent for ward 3 unit 7. In Atakunmosa East, the Petitioners called only 1 witness, a polling agent in ward 2 unit 1. BoripeLocal Government petitioner called only one witness, a supervisor for ward 4 Isale Oyo. Ede North, only 1 witness and 1 witness in Ilesa East and Irepodun Local Government. 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 tge press, he assured Osun people that justice would be done at the end of the day and to the expectation of the good people of Osun.
Posted on: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 01:09:03 +0000
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