Thread by @UkomahM

UPDATES AT THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION PETITION TRIBUNAL TODAY MON. 22ND MAY 2023.

As at 6am, people are in court and are waiting to gain entrance as the doors are still shut.

The notice about not allowing phones in the court can still be seen on the court doors.

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Court Doors are Open!

People have gained entrance and there was no restrictions on the entry with phones and gadgets. While we wait to get update on the issues surrounding usage of phones and gadgets within the Court, we will update you.

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It's a beautiful Monday morning, Judges of the Tribunal are seated, the court has resumed session of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal.

The first petition to be considered today is that of Atiku, PDP and INEC, Tinubu, APC.

Here we go!

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CORRECTION...

The court decides to call the second case on the cause list which is between Allied People's Movement APM and INEC, Tinubu and APC...

Here we go!

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Representatives of parties have established their presence.

SAT Abubakar appears for the Petitioners.

Femi Kingero appears for the 1st Respondent - INEC

LO Fagbemi appears for the 2nd Respondent - APC

Olujimi appears for the 3rd and 4th Respondent - Tinubu and Shettima

Roland appears for the 5th Respondent - Kabiru Masari.

The Petitioners will now proceed with the case.

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Petitioners:
Informed the court that they and 1R and 5R met to agree on timing for witnesses. They (Petitioners) will be calling 1 witness and will require 2 days to present their case.

They recommended the following timing after their meeting...

For Expert Witnesses:
20mins - Examination in Chief
25mins - Cross-examination
5mins - Re-examination

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

2R:
They were not invited to the meeting but agree to the proposed timing.

They also noted that they have 1 witness only and will require 5 days.

1R:
They agree to timing and will call only 1 witness.

3R and 4R:
They agree to the timing as proposed by the Petitioners and will call 5 witnesses, 2 of which will be by Subpoena. They will require 4 days.

5R:
They will call 1 witness and will require 1 day for their defense. They also agree to the proposals of the Petitioners as to timing and have nothing to add.

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The Court asked for their position regarding Paragraph 50 for Consolidation.

Petitioners: They are not opposed for the entire petitions to be consolidated.

1R: Since it is mandatory according to law with exceptions, they remain indifferent & are subject to the courts discretion

2R: They noted that the interest of justice will not be served if the petitions are consolidated. They urged the court, refering to cases and in the interest of justice not to consolidate the petitions.

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3R and 4R:
They do not want the petitions consolidated. He argued that consolidation is not mandatory because where there's a condition to the happening of an event, it is no longer mandatory. He also adopted the arguments of the 2R in toto.

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5R:
He adopted the arguments of 2R, 3R & 4R in toto, not to consolidate.

The Court hence noted that it's decision regarding Paragraph 50 to the First Schedule of the Electoral Act 2022 on the Consolidation of Petitions will be made known in the Pre-Hearing Report.

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The Court thus adjourned till tomorrow Tuesday May 23, 2023 for the presentation of the Pre-Hearing Report.

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And now... ATIKU|PDP v. INEC, TINUBU, APC.

Here we go!

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Seton Aoshoedo represents the PDP
Mrs May (INEC National Commissioner) represents INEC
Sanusi Samaila (Director Legal Services, APC) represents APC

And now, appearances of Counsels.

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Eyitayo Jegede SAN leads Petitioners Team (Atiku/PDP)
Femi SAN leads 1st Respondent Team (INEC)
Akin Olujimi SAN leads 2nd Respondent Team (Tinubu)
Charles SAN leads 3rd Respondent Team (APC)

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BREAKING NEWS!!!

COURTS RULING ON THE MOTION FOR LIVE BROADCAST AND ADMISSION OF MEDIA PERSONNEL INTO THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION PETITION TRIBUNAL:

The court carefully considered all arguments and ruled that LIVE BROADCAST OF THE PEPT IS HEREBY NOT GRANTED!

Back to the Business of the Day... The Consolidation of Petitions.

Petitioners:
They argued that they are not opposed to the consolidation of the petitions and that, by law, the court does not require the concurrence of parties for obidience to Paragraph 50.

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2R and 3R:
They argued against the consolidation and asked that the tribunal should not consolidate all petitions.

The Court adjourned to Tomorrow Tuesday May 23, 2023, 10am to decide on consolidation and further decide on it's Pre-Hearing Report.

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PETER OBI | LP AND INEC, TINUBU, SHETTIMA, APC...

here we go!

Stay Glued.

Ladi Iliya represents Peter Obi and the LP today... The court informs her that she can only stand for the Labour Party and not for Peter Obi.

The court decides to take her record as standing in for the party.

Mrs May represents 1R-INEC

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Sanusi Samaila represents 4R-APC

Now lawyers will now take appearances and we will proceed with the proceedings.

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LEGAL TEAMS

A. Kalu SAN leads the Petitioners
Pinheiro SAN leads the 1st Respondent (INEC)
A. Olujimi leads the 2nd & 3rd Respondents (Tinubu & Shettima)
LO Fagbemi leads the 4th Respondent (APC)

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Announcement...

The Court stands down for 5 minutes... And will resume at 12:45pm

I'm hungry too, I've not had yesterday's dinner, today's breakfast and today's launch.

We will be back!
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Look who's waiting for the court to resume...

We are back...

Here We Go!

The Court is about to give judgement on the PO/LP Motion for Live Broadcast...

Do you expect anything different from the motion of Atiku/PDP?

Tell us in the comments!

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BREAKING NEWS!!!

COURTS RULING ON THE MOTION FOR LIVE BROADCAST AND ADMISSION OF MEDIA PERSONNEL INTO THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION PETITION TRIBUNAL:

The court carefully considered all arguments and ruled that LIVE BROADCAST OF THE PEPT IS HEREBY NOT GRANTED!

One of the Justices said 'Live Broadcast of the trial will do nobody any good' as the motion was UNANIMOUSLY dismissed as lacking inmerit by the Tribunal.

'I hereby dismiss the motion', the Court held.

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Moving forward, the court in like fashion, asked the Counsels to state their position and arguments on the issue of Consolidation of the Petitions as provided for in Paragraph 50.

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The counsel for the Petitioners told the court, refering it to previous cases, that whatever the court decides as to the consolidation of the petition, they will oblige and abide since it is to the discretion of the court.

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The court persuaded the Counsel to the Petitioners that they had suggested a 7 weeks period for their case, that doesn't he think that consolidation of petitions will affect the timeframe of their case, thereby elongating it.

The Counsel told the court that they are still...

awaiting documents and that the position of the court on consolidation will suffice. The Counsel however reduced the timing of his case from 7 to 6 weeks as they are being careful.

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Petitioners:
They highlighted that they need time to do forensics of the BVAS and till today have not received any BVAS from the 1R (INEC).

The court noted that the 7 WEEKS period is detrimental to them as it will leave them with 4 DAYS to write judgment and it is a risk they...

are not willing to take. All this was to persuade the Petitioners to reduce their recommended timing of 7 WEEKS so that the court can have good time to review and make judgment.

The court further noted that they have the privilege to determine the timing of the Petitioners...

case, however, they want to be understanding and make a mutual decision as to timing that will favour all parties to the suit.

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The Petitioners assured the court that if they receive the documents in good timing, they can even reduce witnesses and round up in 14 DAYS, however, they are open to adjustments.

1R:
INEC through their counsel told the court that some documents are waiting in some states...

for the Petitioners to pickup.

They stated that the only information left on the BVAS is the Governorship Election Data and they have provided documentary data to the Petitioners.

They noted that the Petitioners cannot physically inspect the BVAS which is what they are asking..

The court told INEC that it is the right of the Petitioners to physically inspect the BVAS and should not be denied.

Petitioners:
Told the court that all their letters to INEC have not been replied, INEC still insist on not granting physical inspection.

The court noted that...

It has taken judicial notice of the issues raised.

THE COURT FURTHER ADJOURNED TILL TOMORROW TUESDAY MAY 23, 2023 TO FINALIZE PRE-HEARING AND ISSUE THE PRE-HEARING REPORT.

Thank you for staying glued, I remain UC Maxwell.

See you tomorrow if I can! 😫😫😫

The PO legal team addressing the press just informed the public that INEC are still withholding Forms EC8A of 8 LGAs in Rivers State as they have received only for 15 LGAs out of 23.

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