Oyetola, APC close case after arguing alleged over-voting with two witnesses
… INEC presents Adeleke’s certificates
TIMOTHY AGBOR, OSOGBO
The Osun State Election Petition Tribunal, on Saturday, admitted in evidence the file with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) containing clear and more legible copies of the secondary school certificate and testimonial of the state governor, Ademola Adeleke
This happened as the petitioners, Adegboyega Oyetola and the All Progressives Congress (APC), closed the prosecution of the matter after calling only two witnesses to testify to the allegation that there were over-voting in 749 polling units across the state.
Oyetola is challenging the victory of Governor Adeleke at the July 16 governorship election in the state alleging irregularities during the election.
The tribunal, headed by Justice Tertse Kume had during it sitting on Thursday, December 1, insisted that INEC produced before it a file containing clearer certificates and other credentials of Adeleke, having presented blurred copies during the proceedings.
At its resumed sitting on Saturday, counsel to INEC, Chief Henry Akunebo, SAN, informed the panel that the subpoena witness was in the court with original copy of form CF001 with the documents attached therein.
INEC representative, Joan Arabs was thereafter summoned to present the documents which she did and copies were presented to the petitioners counsel, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who acknowledged that it was legible.
Also, the counsel to Adeleke, Niyi Owolade, and PDP, N. Oke, SAN, also acknowledged that the documents are clear and legible.
Thereafter, Fagbemi sought to tender the documents as exhibit, but the respondents’ counsels objected to the admissibility of the documents, saying they cannot be admitted in whole but the two pages that were said not to be legible.
Ruling on the matter, the panel said INEC has presented clearer copies of form CF001 for the 2nd respondent (Adeleke) used for 2018 election and it is admitted in evidence and marked file D with all the accompanied attachments.
Fagbemi, thereafter, told the tribunal that petitioners have closed their case after six weeks.
Consequently, tribunal adjourned till December 20, 2022 for respondents to open their case.
