By
Managing Editor
___________________________
The Governor of Zamfara Dauda Lawal has closed his defense after presenting one additional witness from Bungudu local government area of the state.
The name of the witness was Lawal Barau Bungudu a former Deputy Clerk to the National Assembly.
Counsel to Dauda Lawal Solomon Akuma (SAN) led the witness to the tribunal box, where he identified his statement on oath and adopted same before the court.
Counsel to PDP and INEC told the tribunal that they have no cross-examination hence the petitioner’s counsel was asked to proceed and cross-examine the witness under oath.
Barr. Ibrahim Ali (Esq) who handled the brief of Usman O. Sule (SAN) asked the witness if he was able to visit all the fourteen local governments on the day of the election, he replied “No”.
Barau told the tribunal that his responsibility as the collation agent for the 1st respondent Dauda Lawal starts and ends at the state collation center only.
On which of the result sheets out of the two admitted before the court that was used in declaring Maradun Governorship result, Barau replied that the one in “white colour”.
When asked how he was able to identify the result sheet, he stated that the same result was presented before the stakeholders at the collation center on the day of the election via a projector.
Asked if he had ever met Dr. Ahmad Kainuwa, Barau answered that he saw him first at the collation center.
At the end of the cross-examination of Mr. Lawal Barau Bungudu, the tribunal ordered that the second respondent, People’s Democratic Party should open its defense immediately.
But counsel to the PDP Atoyebi (SAN) told the tribunal that PDP was not prepared to open its case on that Saturday but asked for adjournment to Wednesday the 26th of July 2023 for the party to assemble its witnesses for cross-examination.
Parties to the petition do not object to the oral application for adjournment made by counsel to the PDP Mr. Atoyebi (SAN) but APC through its counsel Ibrahim Ali (Esq) noted that they have no objection if the ten days allocated for the PDP starts running on Saturday as agreed in the prehearing report issued by the court.
The tribunal subsequently adjourned the matter to Monday the 24th of July 2023 for continuation of the hearing.
With the presentation of the Friday witness, Dauda Lawal had so far presented (16) witnesses, leading to closure of his case.
It could be recall that Dauda Lawal during pre-trial conference had wanted to present (35) witnesses before he announced the closure of his case after bringing Lawal Barau Bungudu to be led in evidence.
