The Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, on Monday opposed the attempt by Senator Iyiola Omisore to tender certified true copies and duplicate copies of form EC 8 series.
Form EC8 A is the result of election at units, while EC8 B,C,D are results sheets from wards, local governments and state levels.
Omisore’s counsel, Dr. Alex Izinyon SAN, had sought to tender CTC of form EC 8 series and duplicate copies (not certified) from the bar but Aregbesola’s counsel, Chief Akin Olujinmi SAN raised an objection to this.
The lead counsel for the first respondent told the court that tendering of duplicate copies which were not certified could not be done from the bar because it was not provided for in the Electoral Act.
He argued that such documents could only be tendered through witnesses that would be in the witness box for cross-examination on the documents.
Counsel for the second respondent (the All Progressives Congress), Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, and counsel for the third respondent (Independent National Electoral Commission) Mr. Ayotunde Ogunleye, aligned with the submission of Aregbesola counsel.
The chairman of the tribunal, Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime, in her ruling, said the panel had directed in the pre-hearing report that certified true copies of documents would be tendered through the bar, while other documents would be tendered through witnesses.
The tribunal stepped down the hearing for parties in the case to examine election materials brought to the court.
The petitioner’s lawyers and respondents’ counsel were still examining the documents as of 5.45pm when our correspondent left the tribunal.
Hearing is expected to resume on Tuesday (today).
Form EC8 A is the result of election at units, while EC8 B,C,D are results sheets from wards, local governments and state levels.
Omisore’s counsel, Dr. Alex Izinyon SAN, had sought to tender CTC of form EC 8 series and duplicate copies (not certified) from the bar but Aregbesola’s counsel, Chief Akin Olujinmi SAN raised an objection to this.
The lead counsel for the first respondent told the court that tendering of duplicate copies which were not certified could not be done from the bar because it was not provided for in the Electoral Act.
He argued that such documents could only be tendered through witnesses that would be in the witness box for cross-examination on the documents.
Counsel for the second respondent (the All Progressives Congress), Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, and counsel for the third respondent (Independent National Electoral Commission) Mr. Ayotunde Ogunleye, aligned with the submission of Aregbesola counsel.
The chairman of the tribunal, Justice Elizabeth Ikpejime, in her ruling, said the panel had directed in the pre-hearing report that certified true copies of documents would be tendered through the bar, while other documents would be tendered through witnesses.
The tribunal stepped down the hearing for parties in the case to examine election materials brought to the court.
The petitioner’s lawyers and respondents’ counsel were still examining the documents as of 5.45pm when our correspondent left the tribunal.
Hearing is expected to resume on Tuesday (today).
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