Tunji Wusu –
The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), in opposition to its first submission before the Kano Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, closed her case on Monday without calling any of its witnesses.
The NNPP and its candidate Governor Abba Kabiru Yusuf, who are defending their victory against the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Kano governorship election on March 18, respectively, had informed the tribunal of testimony from 450 witnesses before the court.
Both the first respondent, the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, and the second respondent, Abba Kabiru Yusuf, who presented their cases, omitted the use of any witnesses.
Abba Kabir-Yusuf of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) is being challenged by the petitioner (APC) for being declared the victor of the election that was held on March 18, 2023. APC questions Governor Yusuf’s membership in the NNPP as well as his qualifications, claiming the second respondent was not legitimately registered.
At the Monday session that was resumed, the NNPP’s attorney, Tijjani Yahaya, informed the tribunal that the third respondent had decided to throw out its witnesses after carefully considering the testimony that had so far been provided by the petitioner’s witnesses.
Professor Sam Erugo (SAN), the petitioner’s lead attorney, did not object to the respondents’ choice, but one of the petitioner’s senior attorneys, Abdullahi M. Lawal, a former Kano state attorney general and commissioner for justice, insisted that the respondents’ inability to call more than one witness was evidence of their defeat.
Journalists were informed by Lawal that the petitioner had backed up the veracity of her claims with the testimony of 32 reliable witnesses.
The three-member panel, which was chaired by Justice Oluyemi Akintan-Osadebay, directed all parties to file their written addresses by August 15th or earlier. The case was then postponed to August 21st in order for the adoption of the final written address.
Professor Sam Erugo (SAN), the petitioner’s lead attorney, did not object to the respondents’ choice, but one of the petitioner’s senior attorneys, Abdullahi M. Lawal, a former Kano state attorney general and commissioner for justice, insisted that the respondents’ inability to call more than one witness was evidence of their defeat.
Journalists were informed by Lawal that the petitioner had backed up the veracity of her claims with the testimony of 32 reliable witnesses.
The three-member panel, which was chaired by Justice Oluyemi Akintan-Osadebay, directed all parties to file their written addresses by August 15th or earlier. The case was then postponed to August 21st in order for the adoption of the final written address.
