LP readies 36 witnesses to testify against Mbah, PDP

Maureen Ojinaka

In Enugu State, the Labour Party has announced that it will bring 36 witnesses to testify against Mr Peter Mbah of the People Democratic Party (PDP) at the Governorship Election Tribunal over alleged certificate fraud.

The Governorship Election Petition Tribunal is hearing Edeoga of the Labour Party’s petition against Peter Mbah of the PDP.

Edoga has asked the tribunal to reject Mbah for allegedly forging his NYSC certificate.

Mr M. J. Numa, counsel representing Mr Chijioke Edeoga, told the tribunal on Thursday in Enugu that they planned to call 28 witnesses under their control and eight subpoenaed witnesses.

Numa stated that they would need five weeks to call the witnesses and that they had agreed that the witnesses under their control would require 15 minutes for cross-examination.

He also mentioned that they had arranged for an interpreter as part of the process planning.

Responding, Mbah’s and the PDP’s attorneys, Mr Wole Olanikpekun and Mr Tochukwu Maduka, argued that the FCT High Court had handled the question of alleged certificate fabrication because there was a leave of appeal and that sections 177 and 182 of the constitution had decided the problem.

Numa stated that there was no record of any appeal on such subject, and that the court could not speculate on the existence of an appeal.

He claimed that the tribunal had competent jurisdiction over the subject and begged the court to dismiss the objection.

“177 and 182 of the constitution are mutually exclusive, 182 has elaboration than 177, so they are two separate provision that stand on their own. I, therefore, invite your Lordship to decline those invitations,” he said.

Olanikpekun, Mbah’s counsel, stated that they would be calling 44 witnesses and that it would take 25 days to call all of their witnesses and 15 minutes for cross-examination.

He stated that the petition alleging that the second respondent was not qualified due to suspected certificate fabrication was not before the panel, noting that the tribunal lacked jurisdiction over the case.

Furthermore, PDP counsel, Maduka, stated that there was leave of application on the alleged certificate falsification.

He further stated that the panel was not to decide whether the FCT High Court has jurisdiction or not.

He stated that the PDP intended to summon 54 witnesses, including subpoenaed witnesses and forensic specialists.

Justice K. M. Akano, the tribunal’s Chairman, stated that the ruling on the suspected forgery would be delivered with the judgement.

On the other hand, he deferred the matter until June 22 to allow for a continuation of the hearing.

NAN