Respondents’ Witnesses Strengthened our case at Tribunal – JT Useni’s Lawyers.

• Rough landing as APC closes its case at Tribunal;

• Witnesses in bouts of contradictions;

• I am APC Polling Agent for Jos North and Jos East LGAs during governorship election – Witness;

• We made alterations at Polling Units in Jos North LGA – Witnesses;

• Counsel applies to withdraw two witnesses;

• Tribunal asks for written addresses, adjourns to August 15.

Senator JT’s Legal team have said that the testimonies of APC’s Witnesses at Tuesday’s seating of the governorship tribunal strengthened and improved their petition.

The APC legal experts had tendered documents already pleaded and filed by Useni and PDP. They watched as counsel to the petitioners systematically guided the witnesses to speak to the documents which showed what they were trying to prove all along: over-voting, unlawful alteration of figures and other electoral malpractices.

At many points during intense cross examination by petitioners’ counsel Benson Igbanoi and Sunny-Gabriel Odey, the witnesses sounded more like they were Useni/PDP witnesses. They confirmed all through that INEC Presiding Officers altered or mutilated election results.

They also told the tribunal that party agents did not counter-sign the alterations made by the presiding officers, explaining instead that “We agents of all political parties jointly agreed that the presiding officers should correct the figures and sign.”

The Petitioners had stoutly fought to let the tribunal know that they were not a party to such rigging.

In Tuesday’s hearing, Musa Rilwanu Shehu of Patrick Dokotri street in Jos North LGA, went back and forth in trying to justify the alteration of figures. In one breath he said figures were changed when confronted with evidence, and almost immediately said there were no altterations.

Umar Iliyasu of Abdulsalami street in Jos North LGA also tried to justify the alterations. He said the figure 338 was altered to the same 338 because the presiding officer did not write 8 very well! He added that a political party, the ADC was given 1 as its total score, but this too was cancelled and replaced with 0.

In Filin Ball of Nasarawa Gwom of Jos North LGA, the number of rejected votes was altered from 60 to 57.

Kenneth Mazawaje of Shimankar in Shendam LGA, confirmed that the total number of Accredited votes was 352 but the total number of Valid Votes cast was 358!

Another witness, Al’amin Adams claimed to be APC Polling Agent for both Amigo junction in Jos North and Fursum in Jos East LGAs for the same governorship election holding on the same day!

In the course of presenting his witnesses, APC lead counsel GS Pwul, SAN, applied to withdraw two of his witnesses because of a “mix up in documents.”

He was opposed by Benson Igbanoi of the Petitioners because his Witness had already adopted his Witness statement on oath.

The Tribunal in a brief ruling upheld the objection and dismissed the application.

On the second witness, the matter was temporarily stood down as the tribunal took a break.

Upon return, Pwul, SAN, announced the tough decision to go no further but to close APC’s case.

He told the tribunal that his team was satisfied that they had laid credible evidence in support of their case.

He therefore closed the case and appreciated the tribunal for indulging them to present their case in line with the principles of fair hearing.

Chairman of the tribunal Hon Justice HA Saleeman gave 5 days each to all the parties to submit their written addresses with well cited authorities, and 2 days each to respond on the point of law.

She then adjourned sesting to August 15, 2019 for final adoption of written addresses.

In summary, Senator Useni and the PDP presented 71 witnesses and submitted over 300 documents in support of their petition which were all admitted in evidence.

The National Electoral Commission (INEC) which is the first Respondent called no witnesses before closing its case.

Governor Simon Lalong as the 2nd Respondent called six witnesses and submitted 97 documents.

The 3rd Respondent, the All Nigeria Progressives Congress (APC) called eight witneses.

With the adoption of written addresses scheduled for August 15, 2019, it is becoming glaring too that judgement day is coming closer than when the legal process started.

Yiljap Abraham

Media Consultant to
Sen (Gen) Jeremiah T. Useni,

July 30, 2019

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Plateau Guber Tribunal: Respondents’ Witnesses Strengthened our case at Tribunal – Sen. JT Useni’s Lawyers