Despite 50 witnesses you’ve only called two, Lawyer taunts LP

Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Kemi Pinero, on Wednesday mocked the Labour Party (LP) calling up only two witnesses despite the opposition party claim to having 50 witnesses line up to testify in their case at the Presidential Election Petition Court.

The INEC counsel also claimed that the LP is unnecessarily stalling the case.

At the proceedings on Wednesday, lead counsel for the LP, Livy Uzoukwu, said the office of the INEC chairman has refused to supply the party with documents requested for evidence.

“The office of the INEC chairman has consistently refused to comply with providing documents even with the subpoena issued, in spite of the efforts of the bailiff,” Uzoukwu said.

He noted that he had met with the INEC lead counsel but did not have a copy of the subpoena to hand over at the time.

“I intend to send it to him once I’m done with this proceeding. I’m confident that he will do the needful for us to continue tomorrow,” Uzoukwu added.

However, Pinero dismissed Uzoukwu’s comments, saying it was a tactic to adjourn the proceedings.

Pinero said there was no subpoena issued, adding that INEC had adequately responded to subpoenas issues by other parties and had no reason to neglect the LP.

“A subpoena was not refused. PDP served subpoenas and we have responded to that. It is clear that this is becoming a habit that they (LP) like to whip, it’s a pattern,” Pinero said.

“Don’t use INEC as a whipping board, if they (LP) have nothing else to do they should just say it. We are not going to oppose your adjournment.

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“This habit is showing that you’re only stalling the case. You’ve only called two witnesses out of the 50 witnesses you said you would call and it has been two weeks since tribunal started.

“I just want to make it clear that it is not correct that the INEC chairman refused to respond to the subpoena. The chairman of INEC has no interest whatsoever. So it’s very unfair and uncharitable.”