The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday could not open its defence in Peter Obi’s suit challenging the victory of President Bola Tinubu.
Mr Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, is urging the court to nullify Mr Tinubu’s victory on account of alleged electoral fraud perpetrated by INEC, amongst other issues.
The electoral umpire had on 1 March declared Mr Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of Nigeria’s 25 February presidential election.
After Mr Obi finished calling his witnesses over a week ago, the electoral commission was scheduled to commence its defence of the conduct of the February presidential poll.
However, at the resumed hearing on Monday, INEC’s lawyer, Abubakar Mahmoud, informed the five-member panel of the court chaired by Haruna Tsammani that the case would not go on as scheduled.
Mr Mahmoud, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), told the court that the witness he had scheduled to testify could not make it to court on Monday.
“I was going to take one witness today (Monday), but he couldn’t make it to court this morning,” Mr Mahmoud said before requesting an adjournment.
Responding to the development, Mr Obi’s lead counsel, Livy Uzoukwu, a SAN, expressed his dissatisfaction with Mr Mahmoud for not informing him about the witness’ absence before the day’s proceedings.
Mr Uzoukwu, however, did not oppose Mr Mahmoud’s request for an adjournment.
Similarly, Mr Tinubu’s lawyer, Wole Olanipekun and APC’s lawyer, Lateef Fagbemi, both SANs, did not object to INEC’s request for an adjournment. Afterwards, the court adjourned the suit until Tuesday for further hearings.
Credit: premiumtimesng.com
