Kaduna Central Election: Senator tells court to dismiss petition
By Aisha Gambo
The Senator representing Kaduna central, Lawal Adamu-Usman has called on the Election Petition Court in the state to dismiss the petition filed against him by the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The APC and it’s candidate, Abdullahi Muhammad-Sani are challenging the election of the senator, on the grounds that he did not attend some schools he claimed in his INEC nomination form and had also forged documents.
Lead Counsel of the Senator, Nuraini Jimoh SAN urged the court to upheld the Feb. 25 National Assembly Elections and declare Lawal Adamu-Usman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as lawfully elected.
He also urged the court to discountenance the petitioners’ claim in their final address that the respondent did not file his address on time, stating that the written address was filed on July 26 against July 27 erroneously written by the court’s registrar.
“The petitioners’ failed to file a statement of oath at all with respect to PW1 and PW9, therefore your Lordship should discountenance PW1 to PW9 together with the exhibits tendered through the withnesses.
“Under the High Court Civil Procedure Rules, a witness must provide a withness statement of oath; once not provided,envidence is nullified”, he said.
Responding, the petitioners’ lead counsel, Johnson Usman SAN stated that Section 661(i) of the Constitution states that submission of forged documents in an election is a disqualifying factor forever.
Usman who quoted relevant anthorities urged the court to abide by the Supreme Court decision and bar the first respondent from holding political offfice forever for submitting forged documents.
“The moment a document is found forged, then that person is barred from election forever”, he said.
The counsel also urged the court to declare the petitioner, Abdullahi Muhammad-Sani as the winner of the senatorial election having secured the second highest votes.
The three-man panel led by Justice H.H Kereng said that the case had been adjourned for judgement to a date that would be communicated to both parties.
