Tension, As Obiano Testifies In Anambra Tribunal For 6 Hours

                                          

There was tension as the Anambra State governorship elections tribunal in Awka, following the testimony of Governor Willie Obiano who mounted the witness box for the second time in a week Tuesday.

While being cross examined yesterday at the tribunal by Chief Emeka Ngige SAN, Obiano said he did not know the origin of the double registration document which was given to him by Ngige.

But the session was marred by shouting match between Ngige and Patrick Ikwueto SAN, Counsel to the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) who intermittently interjected during the cross examination.

Also, Counsel to Obiano, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu SAN made things difficult for his fellow lawyers and reporters continuously talking in muffle tone, without making use of the microphone provided, this elicited murmurings from the crowded tribunal room.

However, Obiano admitted that the pictures and signatures that appeared on the voters register appeared to be his own but insisted that he was not an INEC staff and would not know how it happened.

The Governor was, in the witness box between 9.30am till 5.30pm yesterday at the tribunal which was filled to the brim because of his presence and that of Senator Chris Ngige of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Victor Umeh, the Deputy Governor Dr. Nkem Okeke, the Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Chinwe Nwebili among others.

Also, when Ngige sought to tender the document that bore the particulars of Obiano on the voters register, Ikpeazu SAN, Ikwueto SAN and Ayotunde Ogunleye, INEC Counsel objected, describing it as inadmissible but the tribunal led by Hon. Justice Ishaq Bello over ruled the objection.

However, the Governor, who was constantly addressed to as “witness” by Ngige which drew the ire of APGA lawyers admitted that the document was the one he used to transfer his registration from Lagos to Anambra State.

He said he completed the form in the office of the Electoral Officer (EO) on the 21st of August, 2013, adding that he could not confirm his photograph on the form shown to him by Ngige which contained his pictures.

At this point Ikpeazu SAN, counsel to Obiano interjected by reminding the tribunal that Ngige’s time had elapsed.

This infuriated Ngige who on top of his voice said my lords, “this is the first time ever a fellow counsel would time his colleague”

“It is disheartening, I have never witnessed this before in law practice for cross examining a witness” the anger made Hon. Justice Bello to add three more minute for Ngige.

When the form was shown to Obiano he said “I am seeing the form for the first time, the picture there was not mine, I do not know who planted it there, there is no place my name appeared twice and there is no place I voted twice”

But Ngige insisted that he should read out the figures on the form, the Governor insisted that they were tiny and that he could not read.

Upon the insistence of Ngige, Obiano read out the Vinn number as 90F8B14888377881121 adding that what he saw was Obiano Maduabuchi Willie adding that the pictures do not appear to be his.

“I did not know the origin of this but I have seen Obiano Willie Maduabuchi, also the second one Obiano Maduabuchi Willie and I can not confirm that adhoc staff that worked for INEC came from Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU)” he said.

At the end of proceedings yesterday evening, Hon. Justice Ishaq Bello warned the lawyers that they should not be temperamental in their arguments.

“The discrepancies and general practice of behavior will also be seen overseas, whatever we do here may make or mar the judicial system but our promise is that when  we leave here, we are not going to bear any grudges against any person” he said.

Meanwhile, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), and its Governorship Candidate, Tony Nwoye were handicapped yesterday as their matter could not hold.

Rather, the tribunal had put forward their cases for today (Tuesday) as canvassed by Nwoye’s lead counsel, D.C Denwigwe SAN.