Tribunal frowns at lawyers’ unruly behavior during proceedings The Election Petitions Tribunal hearing matters arising from August 9th governorship election in Osun State on Tuesday expressed dismay at the disruptive behaviour of some lawyers during proceedings. The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime, expressed the dissatisfaction of the panel to the intermittent noise and grumbling made by some of the lawyers anytime witnesses gave answers they did not find either satisfactory or unsatisfactory. The interjections became so unbearable during Tuesday’s proceedings that Ikpejime had to caution the lawyers who she said did not behave in mature way. Ikpejime said, ” The noise coming from the bar is too much. We expect to see this kind of behaviour from the onlookers but it is unfortunate that the noise is from the bar. ” We are all mature but this kind of behaviour is suggesting otherwise.” Lawyers appearing for the petitioner are seated in one side of the court room while the lawyers representing the first, second and third respondents are seated together on the other side. Counsels for the two sides tried to blame one another for the disruptive noise. The petitioner’s counsel, Chief Chris Uche (SAN), said the noise was coming from the respndents’ lawyers while counsel for the All Progressives Congress (second respondent), Mr. Kemi Pinheiro ( SAN), told the court that the noise was coming from the petitioner’s side. The tribunal chairman, who was more specific later said that the noise was louder from the respondents’ side of the divide. Meanwhile, the first Governor Rauf Aregbesola, called four more witnesses on Tuesday who testified that the election was free, fair and credible. The first witness to be called at resumed hearing on Tuesday, Balikis Sanusi, told the court that election was free, fair and devoid of violence while she was being led in evidence by counsel for the first respondent, Chief Felix Fagbohungbe (SAN). The witness who chose to speak in Yoruba told the tribunal during cross examination by petitioner’s counsel that she finished secondary school in 2003. She said she could not calculate how old she was in 2003 when she wrote Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination but she could say her age now. The counsel was able to establish that the witness who said she was now 24 years old was just 13 years old in 2003 when she sat for the SSCE. The second witness for the day, Wahab Alade, also said that there was no rigging nor harassment of voters at Unit 7 Ward 4 in Ede North Local Government Area when he cast his vote. However, he stated in his witness statement on oath that he voted at Unit 6 instead of Unit 7 he told the tribunal. The witness said it was a typographical error. Another witness, Adekunke Bello, an unemployed graduate of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso denied being a member of the Osun Youth Empowerment Scheme introduced by Aregbesola. He told the tribunal during cross examination that he finished from LAUTECH in 2010 where he read civil engineering and registered as voter in 2011. However, the petitioner’s counsel was able to establish before the court that the witness’ occupation on voter register and voter card read student even when he registered after having completed his studies. The fourth witness, Abdulraheed Okeowo, who voted at Unit 2 Ward 2 in Boripe Local Government Area said that there was adequate security during the election and the process went on smoothly without any hitch. ift.tt/1GeIIl7 ift.tt/1qGUBZv [[Boost your social presence with NAIRALIKES nairalikes ]] #nigeria x #nairalikes #vanguardng
Posted on: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 15:14:00 +0000
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