Counsel to the Allied People’s Movement (APM) in the ongoing Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, in Ogun State, Mr Sebastine Hon, has alleged that their witnesses were being threatened and under immense pressure not to stand before the Tribunal to testify.
He made the allegation before the Tribunal presided over by Justice Yusuf Halilu, at the Ogun State High Court, Isabo, Abeokuta on Wednesday
However, the defence counsel to the All Progressives Congress, Dele Adesina (SAN) opposed the allegation, saying that the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun “cannot hurt a fly.”
Sebastine told the court that the State Commissioner of Police, Bashir Makama, had allegedly ordered the withdrawal of the Police security attached to the governorship candidate of the APM, Hon. Adekunle Akinlade.
The counsel appealed to the Presiding Judge to give them time to examine the security situation and secure their witnesses before presenting them before it.
Justice Halilu having listened to both counsels adjourned sitting to June 24th. He also called on the Commissioner of Police to look into the security threats, arguing that such threat must not be trivialised.
He noted that the petitioner has the right to communicate his fears to the court, adding “we must be alive to achieve our objectives. If indeed there is any iota of truth in these threats, I want the Police, DSS and other security agencies to look into the matter.”
While addressing newsmen shortly after the court proceedings, Dr Sebastine said “The witnesses who are to come and testify have been threatened just yesterday (Tuesday). One of them, the father came here. He said his life is under threat and that his son wanted to kill him. The rest have been under threat as well. So we told the tribunal that we can’t proceed today after we managed to secure the attendance of three witnesses.
“We are going back to look at the security situation and appeal to the authorities. I personally would be making this appeal as well because we counsel, fellow petitioners and the petitioners themselves need security, to ventilate their grievances at the Tribunal, because the Tribunal are established by the Constitution of Nigeria to have electoral disputes resolved.
“People should be able to come to the law court without any fear. In this case, we have every right to be here and we ask the Inspector General of Police, SSS and all concerned to offer security to us.
“We have just appealed to the Inspector General of Police because I am made to understand by my client that it was the CP himself that withdrew his personal security. Our fate lies more in the hands of the Inspector General of Police that the Commissioner of Police. We are not disparaging him, we are not trying to reduce his status, we are only saying the Inspector General of Police should look into our case.”
APC Counsel described the decision to adjourn the case as unacceptable, as the court proceedings had been peaceful so far.
“I’m sure this Tribunal is taken aback by this allegation and we’re all surprised.
If they can call 28 witnesses without any molestation, then I don’t know what he is talking about. I don’t see or imagine a more peaceful atmosphere than what we are seeing here today. It is evident for everybody to see.
“Beyond that, the person who is the Governor of the state today, my client is a man of peace just like I described him as a dove inside the Tribunal room. I know him intimately. But, you know we lawyers can make a mountain out of a molehill, we can describe a no petition as a petition.” he said.
He assured that the defense counsel would liaise with the petitioners to meet with the CP to look into the society threats.
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