The Petitioners (Peter Obi and Labour Party) presented their seventh witness on Monday at the ongoing Obi Vs Tinubu Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT) holding at the Court of Appeal headquarters, Abuja.
The witness by name, Clarita Ogar affirmed that she is a cloud engineer and architect, who works with Amazon Web Services, AWS Incorporated.
Though the Petitioners’ lead counsel, Dr Livy Uzoukwu, SAN was in court, it was PIN Ikwueto, SAN who led the witness in evidence.
With the presence of AB Mahmoud, SAN appearing for first Respondent (INEC) and Wole Olanipekun, SAN appearing for second and third Respondents (Tinubu and Shettima), one expected both to object to every dot and comma with such quality and sensitive witness in the box. The counsels did not disappoint. They objected to everything from tendering her identity card, to tendering CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE FROM 33 SECTIONS OF SIX REGIONS OF AMAZON SERVICES – NORTH AMERICA, SOUTH AMERICA, ASIA, AFRICA, OCEANIA, EUROPE, to adopting her deposition.
A paragraph in her deposition specifically stated that there was no technical glitch across all the six continents housing AWS on February 25, 2023. Ikwueto read this out for the witness to affirm.
Even in the absence of APC’s lead counsel, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the stand in, Charles Edomsomwan, SAN was equally a master of objections as he resonated in sync with his other tag team members at the Respondents’ corner.
Added to the first attack point that they were served the deposition statement today Monday in court and needed enough time to prepare for cross-examination, the Respondents succeeded in adjourning the process of cross-examination of the Amazon witness to tomorrow.
The fierce objections and interchanging arguments before agreeing to any process and still referring to reserve reasons till presentation of final addresses, seemingly solidifies the time-wasting tactics of the four defendants.
Having stepped the witness down to reappear for cross-examination tomorrow, the Petitioners’ team were very bitter and expressed in strong terms their displeasure at INEC’s continued denial of vital documents they needed to prove their case.
Without INEC respecting the law by responding to subpoenas to provide documents vital to prove their case, the Petitioners explained it was impossible to proceed further today even when they had witnesses waiting outside the court.
Adjournment was reached and all parties urged to arrive at a compromise to make proceedings continue accordingly tomorrow.
The Justice Haruna Tsammani-led Tribunal adjourned till 2.00 pm tomorrow, June 20.
@PO Express Media (POEM)