Plateau Tribunal: Hon. Haruna Maitala opens defence, tenders sets of documents

Plateau Tribunal: Hon. Haruna Maitala opens defence, tenders sets of documents

By Joseph A Adudu

August 15, 2019.

Hon. Haruna Maitala of the All Progressive Congress (APC) opened his defence today at the state and National Assembly Tribunal sitting at High Court 8, West of Mines Jos. The election of Maitala as Member, House of Representatives Bassa/ Jos North Federal Constituency is being challenged at the tribunal by Hon. Jonathan Dabo of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP). Dabo, after calling several witnesses, closed his case last week.

When the case file was called this morning, counsel to Maitala (who is 2nd respondent), Garba S. Pwul (SAN), told the tribunal of their intention to call two witnesses. He however sought the leave of the tribunal to tender sets of documents from the bar before calling witnesses. Without objections from counsels for other parties, the following documents were tendered and admitted in evidence:

Hon Maitala with Chief Damishi Sango at the tribunal on Thursday

1. Form EC8a2 of 63 various Pulling Units in Tudun Wada/ Kabong for the re- run election of 9 March, 2019. The documents tendered were admitted in evidence and marked as exhibits R- R61.

2. Form EC8b2, which is Ward result for Tudun Wada/ Kabong Ward for the re- run election of March 9, 2019. The document was admitted and marked as exhibit R62 and R62 a, R63 and R63a, R64 and R64a and R65 and R65a

3. Form EC8 c2 ( 2 sets). The first set was for the election of 23 March, 2019 while the second set was for the combination of the 23 March, 2019 election and the re- run election of March 9, 2019. The exhibits tendered was admitted and marked as exhibit R67 and R67a.

4. Form EC8d2 for the entire Jos North/ Bassa Federal Constituency. The document was admitted in evidence as exhibit R68 and R68a

5.Form EC8e2 which is a declaration of result of of election of Jos North/ Bassa Federal Constituency. The document was admitted and marked as exhibit  R69

6. Evidence of payment of Certification for exhibits which is marked as exhibit R69 and R70

Cross section of Counsels at the tribunal on Thursday

7. Manual for election officials 2019, Regulation and Guidelines for the conduct of the election issued by the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC which is 1st respondent) dated 12 January, 2019 on the hand of Professor Mahmud Yakub. Counsel urged the tribunal to take judicial notice of the existence and contents of the manual and the Guidelines. The documents tendered was admitted and marked as exhibits R70)1 and R72.

The 2nd respondent counsel applied for the adjournment of the matter until tomorrow to enable them call their witnesses and closed their case. Without objections from counsels for the petitioners and 1st and 3rd respondents, the application was granted. Consequently, the matter was adjourned till tomorrow, Friday August 16, 2019 for continuation of defence.

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