The election petition tribunal sitting in Abuja today in the case filed by Vijah Eldred Opuama of Liberation Movement adjourned till Friday, 1st May 2020 at the instance of the deputy governor of Bayelsa state.
The petitioner had listed Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Douye Diri and Ewhrudjakpo Lawrence as 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Respondents.
P. D. Pius, Esq., E. A. Aluzu, Esq., and E. F. Robert, Esq., appears for the Petitioner. While Usman O. Sule, Esq., and Sarafa Yusuf, Esq., held the Brief of Ibrahim K. Bawa, SAN., for the 1st Respondent. Adedamola Fanokun, Esq., appears for the 2nd Respondent, Chief Chris Uche, SAN., appears for the 3rd respondent while Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume, SAN, appears with Ejike Ejiofor, Esq., Genevive A. Okereke Esq., for the 4th respondent in the suit.
The parties were in court following the last adjournment from 27/4/2020 at the instance of the 4th respondent.
Upon calling the matter, the 4th respondent applied orally to substitute his motion filed on 24/4/2020 due to errors. The motion is praying the court to dismiss the Petitioner’s application to subpoena the 1st Respondent to tender the allegedly forged documents submitted by the 4th respondent.
There was no objection to his application by the other set of Respondents. However, the Petitioner informed the court that he is reluctantly concurring to the application for adjournment but drew the court’s attention that issues had already been joined with the 4th Respondent on the motion they (the 4th respondent) were seeking to substitute.
In the counter-affidavit and written address in opposition to the 4th Respondent’s motion, filed by the Petitioner, the Petitioner urged the court that upon the hearing of the motion, the court should discountenance with the application of the 4th Respondent as such practice is unknown to law.
The court adjourned to 1/5/2020 for the 4th respondent to move his application.
Other applications that were taken, ruling was reserved till final day of judgment.
