Ogun gov’ship tribunal: Adebutu tenders 8,000 exhibits against Abiodun

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Ladi Adebutu, yesterday tendered 8,000 pieces of documentary evidence at the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta to prove his case against Governor Dapo Abiodun. 

Adebutu, in the petition marked EPT/OG/GOV/03/2023 is challenging the victory of Abiodun based on alleged non-compliance to the Electoral Act and corrupt practices during the March 18 governorship election.

Lawyer to Adebutu, Goddy Uche (SAN), presented the documents in various “Ghana-must-go” bags before the tribunal sitting at the Magistrates’ Court, Isabo, Abeokuta.

He prayed the panel to admit the documents as evidence against Abiodun.

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Uche argued that the presentation of the “exhibits” followed the instruction of the court in its pre-hearing report that both petitioners and respondents should present their documents for their cases.

Uche said he had served the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Abiodun and the All Progressives Congress (APC), the first, second and third respondents respectively a 98-page schedule of documents, listing all the documents to be tendered before the court.

The documents, Uche said, included: INEC forms, BVAS reports, ECAs, voters’ registers and printed IREV results.

He also prayed the court to allow him to call his witnesses for the commencement of trial.

But counsel to INEC, Peter Olatunbora, objected to Uche’s prayers, arguing that the petitioners should have availed the respondents with the documents before presenting them before the court.

Counsel to Abiodun, Kehinde Ogunwunmiju (SAN), asked the court not to admit the documents as evidence, arguing that the petitioner did not follow the laid-down procedure for presenting documents before the court.

He prayed the court to give the respondents three days to allow them to inspect the documents before admitting them as evidence.

The chairman of the tribunal, Justice Hamidu Kunaza, in his ruling gave the petitioners two days to allow the respondents to inspect the documents.

Kunaza adjourned the case till Thursday, July 6.