Tribunal dismisses objection to Kalu’s witnesses

An objection to one of the four witnesses who testified at election petitions tribunal sitting in Umuahia, yesterday in the hearing of the petition of the former Governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, challenging the victory of Mao Ohuabunwa, for the Abia North Senatorial district election was dismissed by the tribunal.

The objection of the respondent’s counsels to Onyeabo Nwabuikwu, was overruled by the tribunal, following the position of counsel to INEC, Livy Uzoukwu, and Mao Ohuabunwa, Tayo Oretibo, that the witness is a staff of INEC and was supposed to be a respondent in the matter rather than a witness. The counsel said he should have gotten a written consent from the Attorney General of the federation before his testimony would be accepted.

But counsel to Kalu, Kelvin Nwufo, argued that the witness could testify because he was on subpoena of the tribunal which he said was superior to the Attorney General’s consent.

The tribunal Chairman, Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo, however, overruled the respondent’s objections on two grounds; that the witness was a subpoena of the tribunal and not necessarily for any of the parties, stating that the second to the ninth respondent’s counsel misconstrued the relevant section of the law on that.

Consequently, Nwabuikwu told the tribunal under cross examination that his life was being threatened following his receipt of several phone calls from unknown person against his testimony, but tribunal chairman advised him to report any threat to his life to the police who would follow the matter up.

He said he was an electoral officer in Ikwuano local government area and that though election and counting had been completed in Umunneochi, stating however, that results had not been announced before pandemonium ensued. He noted that his deposition was his experience during the election, disowning the results announced for the election.

Another witness, Prince Ajike Uma, the PPA party agent in Ania Ohafia, said there was no election in the area. He explained that INEC officials came to the area with electoral materials meant for another ward in Arochukwu and were asked to go back for the materials meant for the area.

The third witness, Samuel Igbokwe, the party agent in Eziama Abo ward also in Umunneochi, said the two buses loaded with INEC materials were intercepted by some military men and taken to their camp where the officials were beaten and detained.