The ongoing Tribunal hearing between Senator Mao Ohuabunwa of the People’s Democratic Party [PDP] and Senator Orji Uzor Kalu of the All Progressives Congress [APC] continued today 5th July 2019 as witnesses continued to give oral evidence at the court.
A witness for the PDP, who gave his name as Udeh Otusi Agwu from Amurie Nkporo in Ohafia L.G.A was asked by one of the counsels to the APC where he worked as a polling Unit agent, and the witness said it was at polling Unit 021 Ochiagha Market.
He was further asked to tell the Tribunal the number of political parties that participated in the election and he said 30 but later corrected himself by saying it was only one political party. Such made every one including the presiding judge to laugh, however one of the counsels to PDP, Barr. Chibuzor Ogunji prayed the court to allow the witness to relax his mind so as to entertain whatever questions that thrown at him, adding that it must been a slip of tongue from the witness.
The witness was quickly referred to his document of evidence which he deposited to the court on the day he and his lawyer filed a case and it showed that there were 35 political parties that took part in the election. He was further asked to cross checked his deposited form and read it aloud, and it was observed that in serial number 3 and 5 of his document he tendered, all the political party’s participated in the election.
When the witness claimed he could not see what was written on the document, counsel to APC offered to assist by giving him his eye glasses, but the counsel to PDP stood up immediately and said it was not necessary. Pointing out that since the witness could not see it when not wearing glasses, that he does not thing he will be unable to see what was deposited even on glasses. The presiding judge however intervened by asking the witness to go.
Witnesses such as Emeka Ukairo, and Prince Ogbu Kalu Arunsi were asked if he voted at his polling unit in Nkporo where he worked as an agent and he agreed. He was then asked to explain the number of people who were accredited at his polling unit, and he said 1,500 people prompting his cross examiner to ask why the document the witness deposited showed that 1,000 ballot papers was brought to the unit, while it was equally discovered that about 1,308 voters participated in the election.
Counsel to APC explained that it was not the duty of the witness to know exactly all that transpired at the poll as other officials were equally there for the same purpose, maintaining that the question was out of place for the witness. He insisted that it was the job of the Ward collation agent to do that, stressing that the witness only worked as a unit agent.
Ruling on the matter, the presiding judge made it clear that counsel to the PDP was right to have asked the witness such question as it was part of his job to ensure that the proper thing was done at the unit he worked as an agent.
He however advised both counsels to mind the kind of question they asked witnesses so as not to waste unnecessary time on the matter.
The presiding judge adjourned the sitting till Monday the 8th day of July 2019 for more hearing on the matter.
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