*INEC opens defence July 3
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his Party, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), has closed his case before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), after calling 27 witnesses to testify against the emergence of Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu as the winner of the February 25 presidential election.
Atiku, who called 27 witnesses as against 100 witnesses registered in the pre-hearing report also tendered several documentary evidence as exhibits before the court.
Earlier, Atiku’s subpoenaed star witness, who happened to be the last witness, Mr. Mike Enahoro-Ebah, testified before the court.
Sequel to his discharged from the witness box, counsel to the Petitioners, Chief Chris Uche, SAN, informed the court that the Petitioners is closing its case with the witness.
Uche said his decision to close his case was in view of the fact that he had exhausted the days that were allocated for him to present his case against Tinubu, in line with the pre-hearing report.
“My lords, at this point in time, may we humbly inform the court that this will be our last witness, having exhausted the days allocated to us, pursuant to the pre-hearing report and Paragraph 46(5) of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act, 2022.
“We most humbly apply to formally close the case for the petitioners.
“We thank you for the indulgence and opportunity given to us to present our case” Uche submitted.
Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Mr. Kemi Pinhero, SAN, told the court that all the parties earlier met and agreed to commence the opening of defence by the Respondents till after the Sallah celebration.
Aligning with the electoral body, counsel to Tinubu, Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN, pleaded with the court to allow the Respondents open their defence from Monday, July 3.
Olanipekun informed the court that the Respondents came to agree with the date considering the fact that some of them will be traveling with family and friends for Sallah celebration.
“My lords, all of us took into consideration that some of us will love to travel to celebrate with our families and loved ones.
“Moreover, there is likely to be a two days public holidays next week. We will therefore plead your lordships to adjourn the case till after the Salah celebration.
“When we return from the holiday, we will be refreshed and ready.”
Responding, Counsel to the Petitioners, Chris Uche, said, “In the spirit of cooperation, we have agreed for Respondents to commenced their defence or the date agreed.
Consequently, the Justice Haruna Tsammani adjourned the case till July 3 for INEC to open its defence to the petition.
