Thread by @UkomahM

UPDATES AT THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION PETITION TRIBUNAL TODAY 20TH MAY 2023.

People are waiting to gain entrance into the court as the doors are still shut.

However, an announcement have just been made that PHONES AND GADGETS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED INTO THE COURT.

#LiveFromPEPT

It's 9:41am and the court doors are open!

People are now allowed to go in with their phones and gadgets after an uproar of disapproval of the earlier rule.

#LiveFromPEPT twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

This notice is seen pasted within the Court complex and in the Presidential Election Tribunal courtroom.

Lawyers and individuals within the Tribunal have expressed concerns but are however still clinged to their phones gadgets.

Proceedings are yet to commence.

#LiveFromPEPT

The court has apologized for requesting that the public drop their phones outside the tribunal today.

However an announcement follows: FROM MONDAY MAY 22, 2023, PHONES AND GADGETS WILL NO LONGER BE ALLOWED INTO THE TRIBUNAL. ADEQUATE PROVISION WILL BE MADE FOR THEIR SAFETY.

🔥

Peter Obi have arrived the Court.

#LiveFromPEPT

Court has just resumed session... At about 10:20 am.

What to expect:
- Judgment on motions for live broadcast of PEPT
- Judgment on other motions before the Tribunal
- Closure of Pre-Hearing and Date to commence Hearing proper... And many more.

Stay Glued!

#LiveFromPEPT

The Court resumes with the Petition of Atiku.

Setonji, Acting National Secretary of PDP is representing the Petitioners Atiku and PDP.
Chris Maigida, Deputy Director of Legal Services, represents the 3rd Resp. APC

Other parties are not represented.
#LiveFromPEPT

The legal team with Lead Counsel, Chris Uche SAN has just announced appearance for the Petitioners (Atiku/PDP)

The legal team led by AB Mahmoud SAN has just announced appearance for the 1st Resp. (INEC)

Legal team led by Otaru SAN has just announced for 2nd Resp. (Tinubu)

Legal team led by LO Fagbemi SAN has announced appearance for the 3rd Resp. (APC) and Solomon Umoh will handle the proceedings on their behalf.

Guide:
Pet. - Petitioners
1R - 1st Respondent
2R - 2nd Respondent
3R - 3rd Respondent

The court is led by Hon. Justice H. Tsammani.

1R informed the court that all parties have met and agreed on issues regarding witnesses and examinations of witnesses.

And that they collectively propose the following timings for the examination of witnesses going into the hearing;
+ For Petitioners:
Lead Witness: 30mins

Cross-examination: 15mins
Re-examination: 5mins.

Examination in Chief: 10mins
Cross-examination: 10mins All parties
Re-examination: 10mins All parties

+ For Respondents:
Star Witness examination in Chief: 30mins
Re-examination: 5mins.

#LiveFromPEPT

CORRECTION:

Please the earlier 2 tweets is for Petitioners, not 1R...

#LiveFromPEPT

The Petitioners just informed the court that they intend to call not more than 100 WITNESSES. They also agree that though the law allows them total timing of 7 WEEKS to present their case, but for urgency, they will only take 3 WEEKS for their matter.

#LiveFromPEPT

1R agrees with the assertion of the Pet... However, 2R informs the court that it was not in the meeting where the Petitioners and 1Respondents made that agreement and is not privy to it. They will however, raise areas where they agree upon and do not agree.

#LiveFromPEPT

The 2R proceeds by informing the court that it intends to use 39 DAYS for its case and will call about 39 WITNESSES of which about 3 WITNESSES WILL BE SUB-PEONA.

They further request that Report of Expert (Star) Witnesses be made available to respondents 48 hours before hearing.

Petitioners had requested that there should be no cross-examination of respondents witnesses by another respondent. However, the 2R opposed this position and that it violates the principles of fair hearing.

#LiveFromPEPT

The 2R made the following position known to the court as their recommendations;

+For Expert/Star Witnesses
Examination in Chief: 20mins
Cross-examination: 30mins
Re-examination: 5 mins

+Other Witnesses
Examination in Chief: 10mins
Cross-examination: 15mins
Re-examination: 5mins

The 3R made the following position known to the court as their recommendations;

+For Expert/Star Witnesses
Examination in Chief: 20mins
Cross-examination: 30mins
Re-examination: 5 mins

+Other Witnesses
Examination in Chief: 5mins
Cross-examination: 15mins
Re-examination: 5mins

The 3R also notified the court that it will be calling about 25 WITNESSES and will dispense its case with 9 DAYS.

INEC, the 1R noted that it will be calling 2 witnesses.#LiveFromPEPT

In line with the position of the law regarding consolidation of election petitions, 1R reminds the court that it is mandatory to consolidate all petitions relating to the elections, although subject to the decision of the Court in order to do justice.

There are considerations...

for a stand down or adjournment of the session for that purpose.

THE COURT HAVE JUST ADJOURNED TILL MONDAY, MAY 22, 2023 ON THE MATTER OF ATIKU AND INEC, TINUBU, APC.

ANNOUNCEMENTS...

THE PETER OBI PETITION WILL BE HEARD IN 12 MINUTES AT 12:15PM

STAY TUNED.

We are back: 12:10pm

All parties have announced appearance... HERE WE GO!

#LiveFromPEPT

Petitioners: Peter Obi & LP
1R (INEC)
2R (TINUBU)
3R (SHETTIMA)
4R (APC)

The 1R have several applications to move before the court...

1. AN APPLICATION... To strike out certain paragraphs of the Petition before the tribunal... And other applications which have been adopted.

The Petitioners responded to the motion with counter affidavit and written address adopted urging the court to dismiss the motion.

2. The 1R also filed AN APPLICATION... To strike out Ground 2 of the Petition. (Ground 2 reads: That the election of the 2R was invalid by reason...

of corrupt practices or non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022).

This was supported with affidavits and written address which as been adopted by the Counsel to the 1st Respondent.

#LiveFromPEPT

The Petitioners also responded to the 2nd motion with a counter affidavit and written address adopted urging the court to dismiss the motion (Application to strike out Ground 2).

3. The 1R also filed AN APPLICATION...

The Petitioners responded to the motion with counter affidavit and written address adopted urging the court to dismiss the motion.

4. The 1R also filed the fourth and last APPLICATION... To correct it's (1st Respondent) List of Witnesses and include one Dr. Lawrence which it had inadvertently omitted from the list.

The Petitioners responded to the motion.

The 2ND AND 3RD RESPONDENTS notified the court that they had 3 APPLICATIONS before the court.

1. The 2&3R filed AN APPLICATION... To strike out and dismiss the petition for being incompetent.

They also filed 2 LISTS OF ADDITIONAL AUTHORITIES praying the court to rely on them...

The court observed that only ONE LIST OF ADDITIONAL AUTHORITIES WAS FILED and the court confirms.

The Petitioners filed a Counter Affidavit to oppose the 2&3R Application to strike out and dismiss the petition. They urged the court to dismiss the application.

2. The second motion filed by the 2&3R is AN APPLICATION... Praying the court to strike out the paragraphs of the petition listed in the motion.

In response, the Petitioners filed a Counter Affidavit, urging the court to dismiss the motion for being a class exercise in futility.

3. Lastly, the 2&3R filed AN APPLICATION For an order striking out the entire reply of the Pet. to the 2&3R reply.

The Petitioners further responded by filing a Counter Affidavit, urging the court to dismiss the application as it is aimed at scuttling the right to Fair Hearing.

The 4TH RESPONDENT - 2 APPLICATIONS

1. The 4R filed AN APPLICATION... To dismiss or strike out the entire petition for being incompetent.

In opposition, the Petitioners filed a counter affidavit urging the Court to dismiss the application for being incompetent and misconceived.

2. The 4R filed AN APPLICATION... urging the court to strike out all the paragraphs of the petition itemized in Reliefs 2 & 3 of the application.

The Petitioners, by their Counter Affidavit, urged the court to dismiss the second application filed by the 4R.

#LiveFromPEPT

All the Motions moved and replies to the motions have all been adopted and the court will proceed to other matters.

The 4R informed the court that all parties have met and agreed on the issues regarding witnesses and timings of examinations...h

ANNOUNCEMENT...

THE COURT WILL STAND DOWN FOR 15 MINUTES AND RESUME BY 2:30PM.

Thank you for keeping it locked. We wait!

It's been a long day...

COURT IS BACK IN SESSION...

Here We Go!

Recommendations as to timing for presenting the case and timings as to examination of witnesses were made to the court. However, the Courts position will be final as it will consider the recommendations and give it's position.

Petitioners say they will require not more than...

7 weeks to call their witnesses and dispense off their cases.

1st Respondent say they will require not more than 7 days.

2nd and 3rd Respondents say they will require not more than 9 days excluding expert witnesses.

4th Respondents say they will require same duration as 2&3R.

All issues placed before the tribunal to decide upon the motions and other recommendations as to timing, THE COURT HAVE ADJOURNED TILL MONDAY MAY 22, 2023.

the Court commended the public for its conduct during the session and wished everyone well.

Thank you. See you again!

Photo: The Peter Obi Legal Team addressing the press and affirms that about 50 witnesses will be enough to prove its case.