When the two witnesses presented by the petitioner Senator Godswill Akpabio, let their emotions to betray them into despising and insulting the defense Counsel, amidst repeated warnings from the Tribunal Chairman, Justice W. Akanbi, during Thursday’s session at the National Assembly Elections Petitions Tribunal sitting in Uyo, a dramatic scenerio played out, Igbere TV reports.
Igbere TV learnt that Sunday Ameh (SAN), the Petitioner’s Counsel, at some point, had to apologize to the tribunal on behalf of his witnesses, after the Chairman of the three member panel, W. O. Akanbi had warned that their poor attitude could have a negative consequence on their case.
“If you abuse Counsel, you are abusing the tribunal and we can deal with anyone who is not complying with the court”, admonished the Tribunal Chairman, to which Counsel to the petitioner rose to “apologize on his behalf”.
Godwin Afangideh who claimed to be a businessman and politician of APC, among other comments had retorted at the PDP Counsel, “Am I a spirit to be at all the wards on election day?”
The apparently frustrated Afangideh, PW14, who claimed he was the local government collation agent of APC, received stern warning from the tribunal Chairman who cautioned him promptly, “Do not insult counsel. You are not asked if you are a spirit or not.”
Afangideh further argued that he does not agree that numbers of vote cast must be consistent with number of accredited voters, as contained in the INEC manual or electronic voter’s registers, while the other witness Dr. Christopher Akpan who claimed to be the APC Ward collation Agent for Ikpe Annang Ward, could not explain why his signature was not on the result sheet he presented before the tribunal as Exhibit.
While Afangideh thereafter confessed that his witness statement that APC Candidate scored 61329 as against PDP’s 9,050 votes were made known to him orally by the electoral officer.
“Do you have a copy of the result you are referring to as an evidence here”, asked the Counsel to the PDP. The witness retorted in raised tones, again attracting the attention of the Judge.
“Look at me, you have to answer questions the way are asked. We are warning you. You have to control your temper” Tribunal Chairman.
“My Lord, I apologise again on his behalf” – Counsel to Akpabio again begged.
“Witness, the result you are referring to that would make the whole difference, did you give it to your counsel?”
“I gave it to my party”, the Witness retorted.
“But your party is in involved in this case. Do you know if that important copy is before the court or not?” “I don’t know”, the Witness murmured.
“I put it to you that the only existing copy anywhere in the world is INEC form P534”, Umoh concluded.
On his part, PW13, Dr. Akpan stammered and attempted to rigmarole every answer given but was reminded by the Tribunal Chairman that he is in court and should be mindful of his actions and utterances.
The witness on getting more heated up while trying to defend his position, veered into an outburst, but was again warned by the tribunal.
“Excuse me, you have to answer questions put to you. We won’t take it lightly with you”, the tribunal Chairman said.
Counsel to the petitioner, Sunday Ameh rose to rescue his witness but was warned by the tribunal “to allow the witness to say his words and not put words in his mouth”
Akpan was strongly warned thrice by the tribunal, not to insult the counsel while being cross examined, “You do not have to argue with the Counsel. Answer questions you are asked” the tribunal Chairman warned.
Bluffing the first warning, Akpan, who said he is a veterinary surgeon, got a second fierce warning from the tribunal.
“I have told you before, answer questions the way you are asked. If you know say you know, if you don’t know, say you don’t know” – the tribunal Chairman warned.
On cross examination Counsel to the Peoples Democratic Party, Solomon Umoh, dared Dr. Akpan to mention the name and code of the polling unit he voted.
“I do not know the code of my unit but it is called Primary School Ikpe Ikot Eside” the witness replied.
On further prompting, Akpan was confronted with exhibits P68-83, which were voters registers of Ikpe Annang ward and was asked, “as a ward collation agent, is there any ticking for National Assembly Accreditation, your thumb print and phone number?” Umoh asked
“No” Akpan replied.
The tribunal adjourned till Monday June 24.
“If you abuse Counsel, you are abusing the tribunal and we can deal with anyone who is not complying with the court”, admonished the Tribunal Chairman, to which Counsel to the petitioner rose to “apologize on his behalf”.
Godwin Afangideh who claimed to be a businessman and politician of APC, among other comments had retorted at the PDP Counsel, “Am I a spirit to be at all the wards on election day?”
The apparently frustrated Afangideh, PW14, who claimed he was the local government collation agent of APC, received stern warning from the tribunal Chairman who cautioned him promptly, “Do not insult counsel. You are not asked if you are a spirit or not.”
Afangideh further argued that he does not agree that numbers of vote cast must be consistent with number of accredited voters, as contained in the INEC manual or electronic voter’s registers, while the other witness Dr. Christopher Akpan who claimed to be the APC Ward collation Agent for Ikpe Annang Ward, could not explain why his signature was not on the result sheet he presented before the tribunal as Exhibit.
While Afangideh thereafter confessed that his witness statement that APC Candidate scored 61329 as against PDP’s 9,050 votes were made known to him orally by the electoral officer.
“Do you have a copy of the result you are referring to as an evidence here”, asked the Counsel to the PDP. The witness retorted in raised tones, again attracting the attention of the Judge.
“Look at me, you have to answer questions the way are asked. We are warning you. You have to control your temper” Tribunal Chairman.
“My Lord, I apologise again on his behalf” – Counsel to Akpabio again begged.
“Witness, the result you are referring to that would make the whole difference, did you give it to your counsel?”
“I gave it to my party”, the Witness retorted.
“But your party is in involved in this case. Do you know if that important copy is before the court or not?” “I don’t know”, the Witness murmured.
“I put it to you that the only existing copy anywhere in the world is INEC form P534”, Umoh concluded.
On his part, PW13, Dr. Akpan stammered and attempted to rigmarole every answer given but was reminded by the Tribunal Chairman that he is in court and should be mindful of his actions and utterances.
The witness on getting more heated up while trying to defend his position, veered into an outburst, but was again warned by the tribunal.
“Excuse me, you have to answer questions put to you. We won’t take it lightly with you”, the tribunal Chairman said.
Counsel to the petitioner, Sunday Ameh rose to rescue his witness but was warned by the tribunal “to allow the witness to say his words and not put words in his mouth”
Akpan was strongly warned thrice by the tribunal, not to insult the counsel while being cross examined, “You do not have to argue with the Counsel. Answer questions you are asked” the tribunal Chairman warned.
Bluffing the first warning, Akpan, who said he is a veterinary surgeon, got a second fierce warning from the tribunal.
“I have told you before, answer questions the way you are asked. If you know say you know, if you don’t know, say you don’t know” – the tribunal Chairman warned.
On cross examination Counsel to the Peoples Democratic Party, Solomon Umoh, dared Dr. Akpan to mention the name and code of the polling unit he voted.
“I do not know the code of my unit but it is called Primary School Ikpe Ikot Eside” the witness replied.
On further prompting, Akpan was confronted with exhibits P68-83, which were voters registers of Ikpe Annang ward and was asked, “as a ward collation agent, is there any ticking for National Assembly Accreditation, your thumb print and phone number?” Umoh asked
“No” Akpan replied.
The tribunal adjourned till Monday June 24.
