DPO Shuns Tribunal Again

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, chairmanship candidate in Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State, Mr. Mustapha Adisa Dada was this morning forced to close his case as the Divisional Police Officer, DPO in Badagry, Aliko Dankoli, who was ordered to be arrested by the Election Petition Tribunal failed to show up today.

However, counsel to the respondent, Barrister Ezekiel Afolayan, told the Election Petition Tribunal that he has only one witness who is also his client, Mr. Hosu Tode, the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, candidate who was elected chairman of Badagry Local Government, the first respondent in the case.

But he said Tode had travelled outside the country. He therefore asked for a short adjournment.

Afolayan, however, said he will not waste his time to cross-examine the DPO who has failed to show up.

Azeez Olagoke, counsel to Dada told the tribunal that he applied to close his case because time was of great essence.

Counsel to LASIEC, A. Adetomiwa also told the tribunal that he was not wasting his time to cross-examine Dankoli but he has one witness to call.

Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Francis Owobiyi (retired) adjourned the case till Monday, 16 April, 2012 for the ACN candidate, Tode to come forward to testify. Justice Owobiyi told the counsel that the issue of cross-examination could be raised in their written addresses.

—Akin Kuponiyi