Time: 2pm
The boxes and the projector were returned to court this afternoon. Due to the lengthy argument, the court hasn’t been able to review and admit the boxes of IREV documents that were brought in 2 days ago. Hopefully, some will be tendered today.
Make no mistakes; Labour Party is overwhelming the court with evidences.
Time: 210pm
Supporters of president Bola Tinubu are right outside the courthouse protesting instead of encouraging their lawyers to prove how Tinubu won the election in court.
Seems the video clip about to be played in court today is making them uncomfortable.
Time: 2:50pm
The Justices have sat at about 2:20pm…
And the case of Peter Obi is called CA/PEPC/03/2023
– Peter Obi represents himself: ‘Respectfully my Lords, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi, for the Petitioners’
– Other parties are absent.
Now to Appearances.
LP counsel team today is being led by Dr Livy Uzoukwu SAN.
Other LP Counsel Members Present Are:
Awa Kalu SAN
PIN Ikwueto SAN
Ben Anachebe SAN
JS Okutepa SAN
Dr Mrs Valeria Nzigwe SAN
Peter Afoba SAN
Chike Obi SAN
Rita Garba SAN
C Olushola SAN
1st Respondent (INEC):
Kemi Pinero SAN
Sir Stephen Adeyi
T. M. Inuha
Alhassan SAN
Abdulaziz Sunny SAN
Suleiman Ibrahim SAN
Nasara Attah Esq
Patricia Obi Esq
Chukwudi Enebeli Esq
2nd & 3rd Respondents (Tinubu/Shettima):
Chief Hakim Origimi SAN
Emmanuel Ukala SAN
Oladipo seyi SAN
Mrs. Funmilayo Kuadri SAN
Remi Olatubora SAN
M. A. ABUBAKAR SAN
Emmanuel Wadoka Esq
Akintola Makinde Esq
Patrick Ezezokwu Esq
4th Respondent (APC):
Afolabi Fasianu SAN
Solomon Umoh SAN
Rotimi Okueso SAN
Oluseye Obasoya SAN
Kayode Olatoke SAN
Lawan Yusufare SAN
Aliyu Saiki SAN
Chief Anthony Adeniyi SAN
Abdulrashid SAN
Lukman Fagbemi SAN
Omonsoya Ogbola Esq
Folake Abiodun Esq
Bolaji Oyun Esq
LP brought an application for interrogatories, court mentioned it will give a ruling on that today.
They are about to do that first before we proceed. Justices are writing!
Time: 3pm
One of the things justices look into before ruling on an application is whether the Petitioner(s) have satisfied the requirements of the law to justify the grant of the application!
Still waiting for the pronouncement on the ruling.
The Lead Justice, Hon. J. Haruna Tsammani have now considered all the arguments by the parties and rules that the application to serve Interrogatories on the 1st Respondent is hereby DENIED, for not moving their motion and filing out of time.
As the Court pleases!
Interrogatories Para 17 of the Schedule to the Electoral Act provides for the time for interrogatories. The time has been exceeded; Therefore, the application by the petitioners cannot be granted.
The Lead Justice also struck out the second motion.
Justice Adah:
He also ruled that the Motion be struck out.
Justice Bolaji:
He also aligned with the other Justices and struck it out.
Justice Ugo:
He aligned with his learned brothers and struck both motions out.
Justice Abba-Bello:
He also concurred and struck out the two motions.
As the court pleases.
Dr Livy Uzoukwu SAN have just informed the court that they will proceed to the witness from yesterday.
He have now defer proceedings to JS Okutekpa SAN who have requested Mr. Lucky to take the Witness Dock.
Mr. Lucky have just walked into the court…
Q: You made reference in your Witness Statement on Oath-WSO about your Identity Card showing you work with Channels, where is it and can I see it?
A. It’s here with me (he now presents his ID card)
JS Okutekpa SAN just informs the court that he is an ordinary witness, not a Star
Time: 3:18pm
JS Okutekpa SAN now applies to tender the ID Card and that where it is admitted, a coloured photocopy be substituted so that he can go with it.
Now to objections.
1st Respondent:
No objections
2nd and 3rd Respondents:
No objections
4th Respondent:
Witness still inside the witness box.
No objections
Time: 3:31pm
The Court:
The copy of the ID card of the subpoena witness is hereby admitted into evidence and marked as Exhibit PBH5.
As the court pleases.
LP’s Okutekpa SAN now applies that Exhibit PBH3 be played FOR ALL TO SEE. And that Ikwueto SAN handles the playing as head of technical unit
Court Update:
Ladies and gentlemen, playing on our screens is the video of Prof. Mahmoud addressing the press.
Finally, our movie is here…
The video being played is the video where Yakubu Mahmoud assures Nigeria that there’s no going back on the transmission of results REAL-TIME from the election venue and no going back on the use of BVAS for accreditation and upload.
It was heard loud and clear.
Time: 3:33pm
Mahmoud is heard in the video saying ‘a total of 2,780,786 were identified as ineligible voters and removed from the register’.
He also says ‘3.8million or 40% of voters are students’.
Time: 3:40pm
Court Joke:
1st Resp: My Lords I want you all to take note of the glitches cos there’ll be some
(Court laughs)
LP: This is not the BVAS you used for elections, so it will work
(Court laughs)
(Video playing in low volume)
Time: 55pm
In this second video, Channels TV’s Seun Okinbaloya is in an interview with INEC’s Festus Okoye where he drills him on questions.
Festus Okoye is heard clearly saying when asked by Seun about upload…
‘The commission made it very clear that there were some glitches…’
This interview was after the presidential election.
INEC National Commissioner Festus Okoye says the Commission won’t prevent people from protesting at its offices if they have grievances. #CTVTweets#SundayPolitics pic.twitter.com/rTswGGIw85
— Channels Television (@channelstv) March 12, 2023
Time: 4pm
3rd video: The video where Shettima was announced as running mate is been played.
This will be used to prove the claim of double nomination against Section 35 of the Electoral Act.
Tinubu is heard in the video saying the place holder, Aminu Masari, have dropped and he has picked Kashim Shettima as his running mate for the presidential election.
JS Okutekpa SAN have requested that the video be stopped since the place he wants to make reference to have been played.
But Justice Bello requests that the entire video be allowed to play since the entire drive was tendered in evidence.
Time: 4:6pm
The lead Justice expresses displeasure that lawyers are in court and chewing gum. He notes that, apart from delivering judgment in the case, they would give a conduct report on the entire proceedings.
It’s actually unethical.
Time: 4:9pm
JS Okutekpa SAN notes that he’s done with the witness and now surrenders him for cross-examination.
1st Respondent Cross-examination:
He notes that the witness is a very lucky man and he has no question for him
2nd and 3rd Respondents Cross-examination:
Q. You’re a news reporter?
A. Yes
Q. Last paragraph of your WSO, you noted that the flash drive you tendered were recorded by the cameraman of the company?
A. Yes sir
Q. The cameraman is still alive?
A. Very well.
Time: 4:14pm
2nd and 3rd Respondents Cross-examination:
Q. You’re a news reporter?
A. Yes
Q. Last paragraph of your WSO, you noted that the flash drive you tendered were recorded by the cameraman of the company?
A. Yes Sir
Q. The cameraman is still alive?
A. Very well
Q. All the people featured in the recordings played, particularly the Chairman of INEC, Mahmoud, Festus Okoye, they are still alive?
A. Yes
My lord, that will be all for now.
4th Respondent Cross-examination:
Q. Chairman of INEC is alive?
A. As at this moment, yes
Q. Festus Okoye is alive?
A. As at this moment, yes
My Lord, that will be all for now.
Time: 4:17pm
JS Okutekpa SAN notes that they have no re-examination and apply that the witness be discharged. Lucky has now left the witness box and the court.
Dr. Livy informs the court that they are ready to proceed with the tendering of documents.
The court informs him that they have about 50 more minutes for the day and they can proceed.
Time: 4:21pm
LP’s Peter Afuba SAN is now to conduct the proceedings and they will be tendering the documents from the Bar.
Peter Obi, Akin Osuntokun and Oseloka Obaze
are now seen leaving the courtroom.
Time: 4:22pm
Documents EC40G of Benue State
Pg 1 of the schedule
7 LGAs, 8 Forms are being presented.
Time: 4:29
Petitioners (LP):
They’ll now start with the tendering of Certified True Copies of Form EC40G for 7 LGAs of Benue State in evidence.
Ukum
Katsina-Ala
Agatu
Ado
Tarka
Gwer East
1st Respondent:
They object to the admissibility of the documents and shall advance their reasons at the time of final address.
2nd and 3rd Respondents:
They also object and will advance reasons at time of final address.
4th Respondent:
They equally object on the same grounds.
Time: 4:34pm
The Court:
The bundles Certified True Copies of Forms EC40G PU in respect to 6 LGAs of Benue State are hereby admitted into evidence and marked as Exhibits PBJ1-6 accordingly.
As the court pleases.
Time: 4:38pm
Petitioners (LP):
They will now tender certified true copies of Form EC40G1 for Ado LGA of Benue State.
Time: 4:38pm
Petitioners (LP):
They will now tender certified true copies of Form EC40G1 for Ado LGA of Benue State.
The Certified True Copies of Forms EC40G and EC840G1 in respect to Ado LGA of Benue State is hereby admitted into evidence and marked as Exhibits PBJ7-8 accordingly.
As the court pleases.
Time: 4:51pm
Petitioners now tender certified true copy of INEC report in respect to Benue State
All object as usual.
The Court:
The Certified True Copies of INEC report in respect to Benue State is hereby admitted into evidence and marked as Exhibit PBJ9 accordingly.
As the court pleases…
Now to Niger State… But my Lords want it adjourned.
The Court:
The hearing is hereby ADJOURNED till Tuesday June 13, 2023 at 9am.
We are back to morning session.
Monday is a public holiday.