Edo governorship tribunal chair cautions PDP counsel against guiding witness

Chairman of Edo state governorship election tribunal, Justice Ahmed Badamasi yesterday cautioned the counsels of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against guiding their witnesses while in the witness box in ongoing appearance of witnesses to authenticate the party’s claim that the September 28, 2016 governorship election was manipulated.

Badamasi gave this caution when a PDP witness Omoruyi Edonaye was under cross-examination from counsels to the respondents and there were attempts to guide him. 

The tribunal chairman said he would not hesitate to send PDP's Counsels out since he had earlier warned them to desist from the act. "I will not hesitate to drive out anybody who commit this offense again. I have warned that witnesses must not be directed from the outside bar. It is wrong."

One of the PDP's Counsel, Roland Otaru, apologised on behalf of his colleagues. "We apologise with all sincerity. We are very sorry."

Meanwhile, a chieftain of the PDP, Jarrett Tenebe, narrated why the result for Ward 11 in Estako West local government was cancelled.

He told the tribunal that the Ward 11 result was cancelled because the Deputy Governor of the state, Hon Philip Shaibu, stormed the collation center with guns. Another witness, Joe Atohengbe, admitted before the tribunal that the signature on his written deposition was different from the one his party submitted to INEC.