CURRENT REPORTS BLOG: Welcome to the latest update on the highly anticipated Obi vs Tinubu case at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal. In today’s proceedings, the courtroom witnessed an intriguing turn of events as the defence for Tinubu and Shettima, along with the APC, decided to close their cases. The lead counsels, legal icons in their own right, led their teams into the courtroom, setting the stage for an eventful day. Let’s look as the event that unfolded.
Lead Counsels and Witnesses
Dr. Livy Uzoukwu, SAN, led the team representing the Petitioners (PO and LP), while Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN, led the defence for the first Respondent (INEC). Wole Olanipekun, SAN, took charge of the second and third Respondents (Tinubu and Shettima), and Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, represented the APC.
Olanipekun initiated the defence by presenting various documents, including Certified True Copies, which were not objected to by the Petitioners. However, objections were raised against other documents without the designated certification. After tendering a total of 18 documents, Olanipekun called upon his first and only witness, Sen Michael Opeyemi, the newly appointed Senate Leader in the 10th National Assembly.
The Testimony Unfolds
Sen Michael Opeyemi, having been sworn in on oath, was led by Olanipekun in his examination-in-chief. The witness, a legislator and lawyer, shared his academic qualifications and legal credentials. He also highlighted his experience as an Attorney and Counsellor at Law in the New York Bar since January 1999 and his fellowship at the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
During the cross-examination, INEC did not question the witness, but APC requested the witness to tender his USA Law practice membership card, which was met with objections from the Petitioners. The court admitted the membership card as evidence, pending a final ruling on the objection.
Dr. Uzoukwu’s Cross-Examination
Dr. Uzoukwu, renowned for his thorough cross-examinations, approached the witness with his characteristic calmness. Beginning with seemingly harmless questions, he skillfully unveiled crucial points that would leave a lasting impact.
Here are the key revelations during the cross-examination:
The witness expressed his disbelief in the ECOWAS report submitted as evidence by the Petitioners.
The witness confirmed the existence of a $460,000 forfeiture related to narcotics trafficking and money laundering.
The witness admitted to not accessing the IReV (presumably a system or platform) due to a lack of reason to do so.
The witness acknowledged that the American Bar Association is a voluntary association, raising doubts about the validity of the membership cards he had submitted.
Dr. Uzoukwu efficiently utilized the allocated time, leaving a significant impact with his cross-examination. It was a striking blow delivered by the legal cobra.
Closure of Defence Cases
Expressing their discontent, Olanipekun promptly closed the defence case without further document tendering or witness presentation. Following suit, the APC also closed their case, opting not to present any witnesses or tender additional documents.
In total, the four Respondents presented only two witnesses. Clearly, this tactical move can be attributed to the formidable reputation of Dr. Uzoukwu and his team, making the process of lying under cross-examination a daunting
