INEC counsel’s ill health stalls proceedings at Rivers Tribunal

Hearing in a petition by the All Progressives Congress (APC) against the election of Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could not hold in Abuja on Friday.
The hearing petition could not hold because of the absence of INEC lead counsel, Mr Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN).
The Justice Suleman Ambrosa led three-man panel, which convened for the hearing, adjourned till Monday when they were informed that Ikpeazu was indispensable.
“My lord, I left my office to the court this morning and got here on time as our usual practice.
“I called the lead counsel (Ikpeazu) that I was already in the court and he managed to pick his call and told me that he was fighting a cold.
“I was able to get through to him, the second time and he told me that he will not be able to make it to the court today.
“We all spend all through the night preparing documents and our witnesses for the day proceedings.
“My lord, because of this development, I am praying the court for an adjournment till Monday, Sept. 21,’’ Mr Alex Ejieseme, one of the lawyers from the INEC office told the tribunal.
Counsel to the petitioners, Mr Akinlolu Olujimi (SAN), the PDP counsel, Chris Uche (SAN), and Wike’s counsel, Emmanuel Ukala (SAN) did not object to the prayer.
It will be recalled that the APC and its candidate in the April 11 governorship election in the state, Mr Dakuku Peterside are asking the tribunal to nullify the return of Wike as winner by INEC.
The petitioners had on Wednesday closed their defence after presenting 58 witnesses to prove their case.