The Labour Party (LP) governorship candidate in Enugu State, Mr Chijioke Edeoga has told the election petition tribunal in the state Enugu that he will call 36 witnesses to prove the case of certificate forgery against the state governor, Mr. Peter Mbah.
On Friday during the resumed sitting of the tribunal, Edeoga’s counsel, Mr M. J. Numa, told the tribunal that they will call 28 witnesses and eight subpoenaed witnesses.
He noted that they would require five weeks to call the witnesses and would need 15 minutes for cross-examination.
Although, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Mbah winner of the March 18 governorship election, Edoga is at the tribunal led by Justice K. M Akano seeking the nullification of the victory, over a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate forgery.
Mbah’s and PDP counsel Mr Wole Olanikpekun and Mr Tochukwu Maduka said that the FCT High Court had resolved the issue of alleged forgery as there was a leave of appeal.
Olanikpekun, said that they would be call 44 witnesses within 25 days and 15 minutes for cross-examination.
Like Olanikpekun, PDP counsel, Maduka said that the petition on certificate forgery was not a petition before the tribunal, as the tribunal had no jurisdiction on the matter.
Numa said that there was no record of any appeal on such subject matter, adding that the court could not speculate on the existence of an appeal.
He said that the tribunal had competent jurisdiction for the matter and pleaded the court’s indulgence to strike out the objection.
Meanwhile, Maduka said they would summon 54 witnesses, which would include subpoenaed witnesses and forensic experts.
The Chairman of the Tribunal, said that the tribunal would deliver its judgement on the alleged forgery.
The tribunal adjourned the matter to June 22.
