Elections Tribunal to continue hearing on Sen. Na’Allah’s Petition 10th May

By Abdullahi Faruk, Birnin Kebbi

Kebbi State Election Tribunal has adjourned Senator Na’Allah’s petition to 10th May, 23 to wrap up pre-trial conference and exhaust all pending applications and motions before the Tribunal.

The adjournment came after the resumption of pre- hearing session, where the petitioner’s counsel Barrister Adamu A . Umar confirmed to the tribunal that he has been served with the respondants pre-hearing questions and answer sheets.

“We have 36 witnesses in proving our petition, but due to the time constraints, we will utilized only three weeks out of the four weeks to conclude with our witnesses.

“We intend to take only fifteen witnesses and also we indicted the we need for an interpreter during trial,” the petitioners counsel said.

Counsel to the first respondant , Barrister Mustapha I. Abubakar told the tribunal that they will call six witnesses and by law we have 10 days “but we will conclude within three days.”

Also Counsel to the second respondant , Barrister K. A Ochidi SAN, confirmed to the tribunal that he will call 11 witnesses but now, he will be calling 10 witnesses and to conclude within time.

Counsel to INEC as third respondant, said we are calling 37 witnesses within 10 days to conclude. Thereafter all parties involved including that of the petitioner counsel’s adopted their pre-hearing questions and answers filed independently before the tribunal.

Chairman of the tribunal justice Margret Opara warnned all the counsel’s that it will no longer entertain any motion filed after today’s (Tuesday’s) session, adding that the tribunal can only hear and determine the ones that was already filed.