KOGI WEST TRIBUNAL: Melaiye’s witnesses killed his case with truth, we don’t need more witnesses… INEC tells Tribunal
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has told the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja that Dino Melaiye’s agents have put the weight of evidence in his case against him, hence there was no need to file in more agents, he thereafter asked the tribunal to dismiss the case filed by Dino Melaye (PDP) challenging the victory of Senator Smart Adeyemi (APC) in the last year November 16/30 Kogi West Senatorial District rerun election.
This was contained in an oral submition by counsel to INEC, Barr Chris Alashey on Thursday, while closing its case, saying the application filed by the petitioner (Melaye) lacked merit and was incompetent, he further said the confession of truth by his witnesses have established the incompetence of his matter.
However, as sitting resumes on Thursday, INEC says it will amount to wasting the time of the Court to call witness, saying the Petitioner’s position was enough ground to dismiss the case, as there was no need to call a witness again.
Barr. Alashey said, “I used the time of the last adjournment to review the testimony of the Petitioner’s witnesses, where most of them admitted before the court that they lied. On this note I am no longer calling any evidence. This is on the fact that the first respondent (INEC) case was clearly established during the cross examination of the Petitioner’s witnesses.
“Your lordships can bare me witness that I commended the witnesses for saying the truth that the election was free and fair. On this I hereby close my case and plead your lordships to grant me my prayers that the petitions should be strike out for lacking in merits and full of lies, errors and deceits.”
The Tribunal subsequently adjourned to May 5, 2020 for the 2nd respondents’, (Senator Smart Adeyemi) to open his case.
End.
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