Akpabio Vs Ekpenyong: About 400 Witnesses To Storm Tribunal … As Justice Akanbi Tackles INEC Over Delay

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By UbongAbasi Ise

Hundreds of witnesses are expected to appear before the National Assembly Election Tribunal sitting in Uyo when the trial proper finally commence as Senator Godswill Akpabio of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is challenging the emergence of the candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Engr. Chris Ekpenyong as the winner of February 23 Akwa Ibom Northwest senatorial election as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

At the tribunal’s pre-trial conference held on Monday, Senator Akpabio, through his counsel, Adekunle Oyesanya, SAN, requested to subpoena five forensic experts as witnesses, while also seeking to bring in 16 other witnesses to give testimonies.
Akpabio’s rival, Engr. Chris Ekpenyong (1st Respondent) through his counsel, Barr. Samuel Ikpo, applied for eight subpoenaed witnesses and 154 others to testify, with number of witnesses altogether standing at 162.
List of about 30 subpoenaed witnesses were submitted to the tribunal by the 2nd Respondent (the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP,) through their counsel, Solomon Umoh, SAN. The party also listed 154 witnesses to be brought in, although hinted that all may not be called to appear before the tribunal.
Barr. Robert Emukpoeruo, counsel to the 3rd to 5th Respondents (Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC; Essien Udim Returning Officer; and the Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC), made submission that his client would subpoenaed 30 witnesses and call about 15 others to testify.
When Mr. Emukpoeruo initially requested to make available the INEC certified documents before the tribunal in the period of not later than one month, the Chairman of the tribunal, Justice W.O. Akanbi reminded him that every submission should be made with every sense of responsibility as his clients do not have the luxury of time given the fact that the tribunal has just 180 days beginning from the time petitions were filed.
But the INEC counsel disclosed that his client has some financial commitments to make before the certification process begins, but promise to work towards submitting the commission’s documents in two weeks period.  
Having adjourned the pre-hearing to Monday May 27, 2019, the tribunal chairman further directed the INEC counsel to appear at the next sitting with certified true copies of documents INEC is on notice to produce.
Counsels to all parties on Monday were directed by the tribunal, according to legal imperatives, to give answers to the details bordering number of witnesses to be subpoenaed, intended number of witnesses to be called, issues of time-frame for cross-examination/reexamination, and number of documents to be filed before the actual commencement of trial.

©The Sensor Newspaper

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