Pwajok commends Plateau tribunal, assures panel of Co-operation from the Bar

Edward Pwajok (SAN) speaking to African Drum after court session today

Pwajok commends Plateau tribunal, assures panel of Cooperation from the Bar

By Joseph A. Adudu

June 15, 2019.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and the immediate past member of the National Assembly, Hon. Edward Pwajok has commended the 3 member Panel headed by Justice Halimat Salma for the Plateau State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

The Senior Advocate who is one of the lead counsels in the only petition before the tribunal between Senator Jeremiah Timbut Useni of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong of the All Progressive Congress (APC) made the statement while speaking to African Drum on Saturday at the premises of the tribunal High Court 7, West of Mines after session.

Pwajok stated his commendation was hinged on the fact that the panel was determined to ensure that all matters were heard and determined within time. Consequently, he said that the Bar would give its maximum cooperation to ensure that the tribunal achieved its mandate which is to ensure that justice is done in the matter.

“All of us that are Lawyers were trained to appreciate the fact that beyond being legal practitioners to our clients, we are also ministers in the temple of Justice. That is to say, we are to assist the court in doing its work. To that extend, I can assure you that all of us would cooperate to ensure that the tribunal is able to achieve its mandate at the end of the day and its mandate is to ensure that Justice is done in the matter”, he said.

The Learned silk further said that though counsels would vigorously pursue the case of their clients, it would not be done outside the terms of due process.

“Of course, we would vigorously pursue the case of our clients (because everybody is here to defend his client’s interest) but that does not mean that we would do it outside the terms of due process. We must ensure that there is civility while doing our work because we are all friends. Tempers may flay from time to time but I strongly believe that we would bring our wisdom and maturity to bear in the process of prosecuting the case for our clients”, Pwakok said.

From Right: Edward Pwajok (SAN), Chief S G Odey and S Oyewale at the premises of the tribunal today

Recall that the tribunal yesterday reserved till today (Saturday) to give the pre-hearing report.

During the pre-hearing session yesterday, all the introductory applications were taken by the tribunal. In other words, all the motions were taken. There were motions filed to strike out the petition; there was another motion seeking for the disqualification of the 2^nd respondent in the matter, which is Governor Simon Bako Lalong.

However, the tribunal relying on section 285 sub 14 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and paragraph 12 (5) of the Electoral Act, reserved all the rulings to be delivered together with the final judgment.

Part of the pre-hearing report was in line of the advice by the Senior Counsels representing all the parties which would also serve as guidelines on how hearing of the substantive matter would be conducted. Some of the decisions reached as given by the tribunal this morning was that hearing in earnest would commenced on 26 May, 2019 and sitting would be Mondays to Fridays from 9:30am to 5pm with the exception of Fridays which is 9:30am to 1pm to enable Muslim faithful observe their prayers. The report also gave 14 days and 10 days period for taking of witnesses by the petitioners and by the respondents respectively. According to the report, 5 minutes, 10 minutes and 2 minutes were the times allocated to witnesses for examination, cross examination and re-examination respectively; also, all relevant pleaded and certified documents not objected to can be tendered from the bar.

On the pre-hearing report, Pwajok said that all the tribunal did was in line with transparency so that the public too would be abreast with the rules that guide the activities in the tribunal.

“So that hopefully, (particularly) you in the media would be able to follow the activity in the tribunal without being taken by surprise when proceeding commences. I would say that it is in line with Justice, it is in line with fair hearing and in line with transparency”, said Pwajok.