The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 presidential election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has revealed that he will be calling not less than 100 witnesses to prove that Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressive Congress (APC) was not duly elected as the president of Nigeria.
At the resumed sitting on Saturday, Atiku, through his lead counsel, Chief Chris Uche SAN, told the court that the matter for the day is for completion of pending issues in the pre-hearing section.
Uche submitted that the parties have met and agreed on number of witnesses and duration of examination of the witnesses, examination in chief, cross examination and on re-examination.
According to him, the parties agreed to streamline the number of witnesses and duration for each parties to call witnesses, all subject to ratification by the court.
Breaking it down: The time duration to give evidence in Chief for Star witness is 30 minutes because they may wants to tender documents, 15mins for opposing team for cross-examination and 5mins for re-examination for the lead witness of the Petitioner.
On the other witnesses for the Petitioner, the parties proposals subject to the court consideration are, 10mins for evidence in chief, cross examination for 10mins and 5mins for re-examination.
For Respondents witnesses, the parties proposed 30mins for the Star witness’s evidence in chief, 30mins for cross examination and 5mins for re-examination.
Concluding, Chris Uche suggested no cross examination by respondents for his own witness.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, (1st respondent)through its counsel, Abubakar Mahmoud, revealed they will be calling two witnesses.
While Tinubu will be calling 39 witnesses and APC will be calling 25 witnesses.
The respondents all opposed to the proposal made by Cris Uche of no cross examination by for respondents witnesses by the respondents counsel
They described it as unconstitutional and an attempt against fair hearing.
The Justice Simon Tsamani panel, had adjourned to Monday, 22 May for parties to agree on the issue of consolidation.
