Parties Close Koko’s case As Kebbi Tribunal Adjourns For Final Address

By:Abdullahi Faruk Birnin Kebbi

. . . We are certify with evidence Elicite from Petitioners Witnesses, Says Respondant

Kebbi State National and State Assembly Election Petition Tribunal on Monday adjourned till September 7th after all parties closed their cases in the petition marked EPT/KB/HR/6/2023.

In the said petition, the House of Representatives candidate of the All Progress Congress Party (APC) of Koko-Besse/ Maiyama Federal Constituency, Shehu Muhammad Bello Koko filed a Petition against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as 1st Respondant, Honourable Garba Salisu Koko as 2nd Respondant, and Peoples Democratic party (PDP) as 3rd Respondant for non-compliance to the Electoral Act and eligiblity during the conduct of the last general election in the state.

The petitioners had closed their cases after calling no fewer than 20 witnesses and tendered several documents to proof their petition.

The INEC, being the first Respondent also opened and closed its case without calling any Witnesses.

However, Honourable Garba Salisu Koko who is the 2nd Respondent earlier said he had 30 witnesses to defend his victory, but, end up closing his case on Monday 14th August with only calling one witness and closed his defend.

” We have carefully peruse the evidence of the Petitioners witnesses, and the evidence elicited during Cross examination, so based on that we are hereby closed our defend,” Barrister E. O. L Ideh Counsel to Hon. Garba Salisu Koko told tribunal.

The 3rd respondant, PDP Counsel Barrister Aminu Hassan said” As 3rd respondant we are certified with the evidence elicited during Cross examination of Petitioners witnesses, we are not calling any witnesses and closed our defend counsel informed to tribunal.

Honourable Justice Margret Opara led panel had adjourned the proceeding for the adoption of final written addresses to September 7th.