Tribunal: Ogun APC closes case without witness

The All Progressives Congress, APC, in Ogun State Monday closed its case at the State Governorship Petition Tribunal, sitting in Isabo, Abeokuta without calling any witness.

The tribunal was hearing a petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate Prince Gboyega Isiaka to challenge the victory of Governor Ibikunle Amosun at the April 11 governorship election in nine local councils.

Specifically, the petitioners wanted the elections in the contentious local councils to be nullified and declare Isiaka, the winner of the election.

The first respondent, Governor Ibikunle Amosun had on Friday closed his case calling four out of 29 witnesses listed.

Counsel to the second Respondent, Mr. George Oyeniyi at the resumption of the defence said, “We have critically looked at the petition on hand and considered all the evidences put forward by the first respondent. We are comfortable with the account of the witnesses and hereby close our case”.

Speaking to newsmen, Oyeniyi said; “The onus of proving the case lies with the petitioners, we need not to call witnesses again when there are enough documents already admitted by the court to decide the case.”

Reacting to the failure of the second respondents to present the eleven witnesses earlier presented to the court, the lead counsel to the petitioners, Adetunji Oyeyipo, described the tactic as a costly gamble.