Tribunal: INEC deliberately frustrating our petitions, Obi legal team raises alarm

Chigozie Ikpo, Abuja

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the February 25 election, Mr. Peter Obi, has called in a staff of Amazon Web Services (AWS) to testify before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) sitting in Abuja, in his petition challenging the outcome of the February 25 election.
The witness, Clareta Ogar told the Court that she is a Cloud Engineer and an Architect with the AWS and appeared based on a subpoena served on her organization.
Led in evidence at Monday’s Proceedings by counsel to LP, Patrick Ikweto (SAN), Ogar produced 6 Health Status Reports of the AWS Cloud Services across 33 Regions where the company hosts their services as well as a certificate of compliance.
Mr. Ikweto tendered the 6 reports for the 33 regions and the Certificate of Compliance as evidence before the court in pursuant of their case.
The Justice Haruna Tsammani-led Panel admitted the document as exhibits marked PCJ3 A-F and PCJ4 respectively, despite objections by the respondents.
The Court also stood down Cross-examination of the witness till tomorrow after Counsel for the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) A. B. Mahmood, SAN, Counsel for Tinubu and Shetimma, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) representing the All Progressives Congress said they just received the witness statement today and are yet to study it.
Furthermore, the LP legal team complained to the PEPC about the frustrations in the collection of documents from INEC.
Jubril Okutepa (SAN) informed the court that INEC has refused to give them all the documents they applied despite all their efforts, stating that they have written letters to INEC but are yet to get positive responses.
“We received just few copies of IReV reports, on few LGAs in Lagos state. On a closer look, they were certified 29th May but we were just given today.
“In Gombe, they gave us IRev reports for just 2 LGAs instead of all the councils in Gombe state. We have written letters including the one I signed and delivered on the 20th of May 2023 directed to A. B. Mahmood (INEC lead counsel).
“This is a time bound proceeding, INEC cannot refuse to give us what we requested, we requested for EC25A but we have not been been given. It appears that INEC is deliberately frustrating the suit.
Responding, Counsel to INEC, A. B. Mahmood (SAN) told the Court that he received the letter and replied promptly, stating that he was not informed if there were still issues.
The Senior lawyer expressed surprise at the statements made by the LP legal team, stating that they have produced lots of documents and that some of their staff have come to testify as subpoenaed witnesses in the ongoing petitions, but assured the court that he will meet with the Petitioners and give them the necessary help.
Lead Counsel for LP, Dr. Livy Uzoukwu, further lamented on the issues they have been having and told the court that INEC is not completely honest with the way they have handled the issuance of documents, adding that the frustrations from INEC is affecting them greatly
Dr. Uzoukwu told the court that they have paid for all the documents, but INEC keeps delaying them and have refused to respond to the Subpoenas served on them.
Justice Misturat Bolaji-Yusuf pleaded with both parties to work together to resolve the issues in the interest of Justice.
“Before we rise, we appeal to both counsels to cooperate with each other. We are all friends and we are all Nigerians, and after this case, we will continue meeting.
“If we start playing to the gallery it will not help us, all we are interested in, is the justice of the matter.
“We want to deliver Justice and act fair so that if anyone abuses us we know that we have fulfilled conscience.”, Justice Bolaji-Yusuf said.
Justice Tsammani therefore adjourned proceedings till Tuesday, June 20 for further hearing.