The Presidential Election Petition Court(PEPC) has admitted in evidence, a United States of America (USA) District Court judgment that reportedly indicted President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and ordered his forfeiture of $460,000 in drug related offences.
The first Petition Witness (PW1), Barrister Lawrence Uchechukwu Nnanna Nwakaeti, tendered the certified true copy of the judgment in court on Tuesday.
The PW1, in his evidence-in-chief, led by Mr Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, tendered the court’s judgment as part of requests by Obi and Labour Party to prove that Tinubu was not qualified to run the election of the 2023 presidency.
However, Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC) announced that they have objections against admission of the judgment but reserved the objections to final address stage.
Under cross examination by Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN who stood for President Tinubu, the witness admitted that the judgment was not registered in Nigeria.
The witness admitted that there was no certificate from any Consular in Nigeria or America in support of the judgment but insisted that “the judgment speaks for itself”.
He claimed to have been to the United States of America and read the judgment in its entirety adding that he would be surprised if no mention was made of $460,000 forfeiture.
On his part, counsel to Tinubu, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN, asked the witness if he has a certificate under the Police officer in the US where the alleged crime took place.
However, the witness said that the American Court judgment had no certificate given under the hand of any American Police Officer.
He denied knowledge of a February 4, 2003 Formal Clearance Report by Legal Attachee from American Embassy in respect of the alleged indictment and forfeiture.
When asked by Fagbemi SAN to produce a copy of the charges against Tinubu, the witness admitted not having any but maintained that the indictment and forfeiture are from civil proceedings.
Meantime, Justice Haruna Tsamani led panel admitted the documents as evidence.
Further hearing in the petition continues tomorrow, May 31.
