Edo Tribunal orders INEC to allow Airhiavbere access to election materials

By Victor Osehobo

The reconstituted Edo State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Benin City yesterday granted an application of Major General Charles Airhiavbere (Rtd) compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to produce materials used at the July 14 governorship polls in the state.

The chairman of the panel, Justice Mu’azu Pindinga, who gave the ruling based on failure of INEC to comply with an earlier order granted on 28th September by the sacked panel led by Justice Suleiman Ambrusa said INEC must do so latest today, Thursday even as he advised all parties to be mindful of the time remaining in the case.

Chief Efe Akpofure, SAN, lead counsel to the PDP governorship candidate, who said “These are documents that we intend to use to prove malpractice”, had raised an alarm that INEC had so far refused to fully comply with the tribunal’s earlier order to handover certified true copies of the various voters registers to them for which they applied.

But counsel to INEC, Barr. E Emukperuo had opposed Akpofure, saying that INEC had already given the materials required for the case to go on adding that “The impression that INEC held them back is misleading.

The materials that INEC has given them could fill this court hall.

Most importantly, he is not complaining, I met him last week and we greeted warmly. This complaint is made for the very first time.”

The sitting of the new tribunal following the dissolution few weeks ago of the earlier tribunal headed by Mr. Justice Suleiman Ambrusa with Justices Esor Teetito and Danlami Senchi as members by the President of the Court of Appeal following a petition to the Nigerian Judicial Commission, NJC over allegation of financial inducement from the Edo state governor Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

Meanwhile, Justice Pindinga had adjourned further hearing to November 16 when all the required materials must have been made ready by INEC.

Maj. Gen. Airhiavbere (Rtd) and the Deputy Governor of the state, Dr.  Pius Odubu were present at the tribunal.

NigerianPilot