Benue guber: Drama as Jime’s witness rejects his candidate’s exhibit

By David Mzer.

A witness appearing for Emmanuel Jime and the All Progressives Congress, APC from Mbagber Council Ward of Logo local government today denied an exhibit tendered through him by Jime’s lawyer.

The witness, Mr Ahinga Mtagher, who was led in evidence by Jime’s lawyer, Wahab Egbewole, SAN, rejected the exhibit, saying, exhibit P517 tendered by Jime’s lawyers was not the result sheet of his polling unit, LGEA Primary School, Mchia for which he has been called upon to testify.

After a mild drama that lasted for about five minutes, the Tribunal Chairman, Justice Adebola Olusiyi ordered that the witness be withdrawn from the witness box.

Another witness called by Jime, Julius Dughur was barred from testifying after the counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Uyi Igunma objected that the witness name was not on the list of petitioners’ witnesses, hence he was smuggled through the back door to come and testify.

Governor Samuel Ortom’s lead counsel, Sebastine Hon, SAN, and that of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Oba Maduabuchi, SAN, aligned themselves with the submission of INEC’s counsel.

Four other witnesses called by the petitioners who complained that there was over-voting and alterations in their witness statement on oath could not show the Tribunal where there was over-voting and alteration in their polling units during cross examination by counsels to the respondents.

Before adjourning proceedings to tomorrow, the Tribunal Chairman, Justice Olusiyi delivered a ruling allowing Joe Abaagu to testify as a witness for the petitioner after the objection from the lawyers of the respondents that Abaagu be listed as a counsel to the petitioners.