05/07/2023
*Obi vs Tinubu (July 5): Anti-Climax as Tinubu/Shettima, APC Close Cases*
POEM Reports...
Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed led other Labour Party big wigs to court in continuation of the Obi vs Tinubu at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal holding at the Abuja Appeal Court.
All the lead counsels of the parties involved led their respective retinue of legal icons to court.
Dr. Livy Uzoukwu, SAN led the Petitioners' (PO and LP), Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN led the first Respondent (INEC), Wole Olanipekun, SAN led second and third Respondents (Tinubu and Shettima) and Lateef Fagbemi, SAN led APC.
Olanipekun flagged off the defence with tendering of documents. Uzoukwu did not object to Certified True Copies of documents as all the parties agreed during pre-hearing but objected to all other documents not so designated.
After tendering 18 documents, Olanipekun presented his first, and what turned out as his only witness in person of Sen Michael Opeyemi, the new Senate Leader in the 10th National Assembly.
Having been sworn on oath with the Bible, Olanipekun led him as the Examinar-in-Chief.
Hear him, "I'm a legislator and a lawyer. I hold a BA at the University of Ife, LLB at Uniben, LLM, University of New Hampshire and a BL from Nigerian Law School. I'm licensed as an Attorney and Counsellor at Law in the New York Bar since January 1999. I'm also a fellow at the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators."
His deposition was adopted, then Olanipekun led him into emphasizing some chapters of his deposition.
While INEC had no cross-examination, APC led the witness to tender his USA Law practice membership card, which was objected to by the Petitioners. The court however admitted in evidence pending determination of objection during final ruling.
When it finally got to Dr. Uzoukwu's moment, the man many regard as the cobra of cross-examinations approached the witness with usual calm.
Characteristically, the Petitioners' lead counsel started with seemingly harmless ques
