Good afternoon ladies and Gentlemen all over the world reading my blog right now..
We are back in court, refreshed and ready for the continuation of the Tribunal proceedings..
You’d recall of the #LiveUpdates : Day 6 of Presidential Election Petition Tribunal
Read above link to follow up.
As you know, the first ruling for live broadcasting was on Atiku’s case and the answer was NO.
LP also has an application requesting the same and the judges also have to give their ruling on that. We already know it’s a NO, but I am documenting it anyway.
One of the Justices said ‘Live Broadcast of the trial will do nobody any good’ as the motion was already dismissed as lacking inmerit by the Tribunal.
‘I hereby dismiss the motion.’
On the issue of consolidating cases:
The petitioners’ counsel (LP & Obi) told the court that whatever they decide they will accept since the court holds the final decision anyway.
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The court is asking LP & Obi’s Counsel if they are comfortable with consolidating cases since they initially stated that they will need 7 weeks to wrap up their case.
The Counsel told the court that they are still awaiting documents but consolidation is also accepted and that they can wrap up their case in 6 weeks rather, to have enough cushion for the unexpected.
LP & Obi’s counsel also stated that they need time to do forensics of the BVAS but INEC has still not granted them access to the devices. The court argued that the 6-7 weeks they are asking for is complicated because they will only have 4 days left to write their judgments which is a risk they are not willing to take. The court emphasized that they need enough time to write their judgment after all parties have wrapped up their case.
The court stated that they have the final say on the timeline of the trial but they want to ensure that all parties are comfortable with their timeline. The Petitioners told the court that if they receive the documents on time, they can even reduce witnesses and round up in 2 weeks, but they are open to adjustments.
INEC’s counsel told the court that some documents are waiting in some states for the Petitioners to pickup and that only the info waiting in the BVAS is the Governorship Election Data and they have provided documentary data to them but they can’t allow the petitioners to physically inspect the BVAS. The court reminded INEC that it is the right of the Petitioners to physically inspect the BVAS and should not be denied.
LP & Obi’s counsel told the court that all their letters to INEC have not been replied, INEC still insist on not granting physical inspection.
The court sated that it has taken judicial notice of the issues raised.
The hearing was adjourned till Tuesday May 23, 2023 to finalize the pre-hearing.
Finally, as expected…. APC thugs were charging to the courthouse angrily chanting and blocking the road! That’s no longer a protest, seems like a riot.
Interesting days ahead…… Darkness hovering across Nigeria…..
That would be all for today regarding the Tribunal…… I need to go find some food 🍲… I am so famished already..
I don’t trust these Judges…. These 5 judges are here to catch cruise..
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From all indications the cabals, INEC and the judges are determined to frustrate Nigerians over the election issues.