Sokoto governorship elections tribunal’s main trial begins July 9

The Sokoto State 2019 Governorship Elections Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Sokoto has adjourned its sitting to July 9, 2019, for the commencement of the main trial in the case brought before it by the APC governorship candidate, Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, challenging the declaration of the PDP Candidate, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal by INEC as the winner of the election.

The Chairman of the Tribunal, Justice Abdullahi Abbas, had at its sitting on Saturday, June 22, 2019, presented the report of the fourteen days pre-trial session which ended on Friday, June 21, 2019.

He said, “the counsels for the petitioners and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents, had presented their issues for determination to the court during the pre-trial session.

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“They had tendered all their documents for determination which had been admitted by the court as exhibits.”

Justice Abdullahi also disclosed that the counsels are to call a total of 117 witnesses, including star ones, as well as others on subpoena.

The chairman promised to judiciously dispense justice, even as he called on the counsels to sustain their current levels of cooperation, to ensure smooth and speedy proceedings.

Lead counsel for the petitioners, Barrister Jacob Ochidi, as well as those of 1st, 2nd and 3rd Respondents, Barrister G. D. Ding, Barrister Suleiman Usman, SAN and Barrister M. M. Yabo, respectively, all commended the chairman of the tribunal for meticulously presenting the report of the pre-trial session.