By Peter Akpah
Lalong tendered additional documents for defence from the bar through his council F O fagbemi SAN, so far the second respondent lalong has tendered the total of 97 documents which are forms EC8A’s and EC8B’s, from Barkin ladi, joseast, qua’anpan, and Lantang North respectively in their defence, however council to the petitioners Benson Igbanoi who lead the petitioners council objected to the addmitsability of the documents but reserved his objections till the final address, the exhibits are marked as exhibit R2 to R97,
After that Lalong the 2bd respondent through his council presented their first star witness, Hon Luka Fwanyil, one time Attorney General, and head of service of Plateau State.who was the returning officer for both APC and Simon Lalong in the governorship election, was call to testify, and was asked if he received any complains from the agents, he described the election in the state as being “free and fair.” He said he did not receive any report of electoral malpractice from any of the collation centres across the state.
He was then referred to some i personal documents that Governor Lalong had filled and submitted to INEC under oath, Fwangyil said yes he had the privilege to see it, and he was also asked how long he has known lalong the 2nd respondent he said he know him for over 30 years. and work closely with him during the elections into the state House of Assembly in 1999 and 2003 as well as into the office of Governor, in 2015 and 2019, it was the same name “Simon Bako Lalong” that was used in his documentation.
Cross examination from the Petitioners’ Counsel, Benson Igbanoi asked him if at any time he attended the same primary or secondary school with Lalong, or if they were classmates in the School of Preliminary studies keffi, or the university…or the law school, Barr Fwanyil answered, and said Obviously no, not my classmate, and not his mate as well. he was then given exhibit R1his witness deposition which he stated that he witnessed the collation of results from the beginning to the end and the summaries was based on the scores all the political parties scored, he was asked after casting his votes did went back home and await the results he said no, I voted at my own village panyam in Mangu LGA, and after casting his vote he went back to jos, and also in exhibit R1 he said he received duplicate copies of forms EC8A’s and form EC8B’s from the agents, that was what he stated in his witness deposition he said yes, he was then asked that exhibit R2 to 97 if there are the duplicate copies, he said obviously no the are pink copies, not the certify true copies that’s exhibit R2 to R97, the documents he received are different from the (CTC), the petitioners council now that with what he said that contradictes his own statements on oath,.
RW2-: Ringpwom Byetfa of Shishiri ward in Langtang North LGA told the tribunal during cross examination that in his polling unit kumbwan 1, PDP scored 360 votes as against APC’s 68 votes.he said he blamed the INEC presiding officer for not heeding to his plea for recounting of votes alleging that the PO allocated votes unlawfully to PDP.
RW3-: Dung Isaiah Bitrus of Ratsak Ingen Zabot ward in Barkin L.G.A was asked which political party won the governorship election in his unit. he said “PDP won. and he signed the result sheet and was given a duplicate copy which he handed over to his ward collation agent.
RW4-: Lan Joseph choji of heipang ward in Barkin Ladi LGA during cross examination told the tribunal that in the result that he signed PDP with550 votes and APC 99, in his polling Unit kabong 1.
After RW 4 finished testifying, the council to the 2nd lalong Puis Akubo SAN asked for an adjournment to Monday 29th July as they are yet to assemble all their witness because of distance,
Chairman of the Plateau State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, Hon. Justice H.A. Saleeman, has expressed her strong disappointment over the failure of the 2nd Respondent, Simon Bako Lalong and his legal team to produce their witnesses as directed by the Tribunal.
Only four witnesses showed up for Lalong when seating resumed on Friday 26th July after the tribunal had reluctantly adjourned two times on Thursday at the instance of the Respondents.
While trying to assuage an obviously disappointed tribunal and the petitioners’ legal team, Lalong’s lawyers blamed the situation on distance, the Plateau rough terrain and the fact that this is the depth of the farming season when many witnesses will be very busy on their farms.
Justice Saleeman took serious exception to this failure especially after the Respondents were warned the previous day that the Tribunal would be constrained to close their case if they failed to diligently put up their defense.
“Do not take this tribunal for granted. You should be fair to yourselves and be fair to us. The time of the tribunal is being wasted. and the tribunal don’t have time, time is running o. Their side, You must bring in your witnesses or close your case early.”
It was a situation that brought in the contributions of the second member of the tribunal Hon. Justice Iheka who spoke strongly in support of the Chairman.
Lalong’s Counsel, Pius Akubo, SAN, apologised profusely and asked the tribunal to extend some indulgences to his team to remedy the situation.
Counsel to the petitioners Benson Igbanoi said the Respondents should either “continue or surrender.” he said now the table has turn on them witnesses from joseast which is a stone trow can no longer be accessible. that was exactly what Pius Akubo SAN told them when their witnesses are been threaten.
And for the third time in 24 hours, the tribunal graciously but reluctantly granted the 2nd Respondent’s application for adjournment. Seating resumes on Monday, 29th July, 2019
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