The All Progressive Congress and its presidential candidate, President Bola Tinubu and Vice President, Kassim Shettima, have closed their defence in the joint petition filed by the Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
The respondents on Wednesday, in Abuja, closed their defense in the joint petition by LP and Peter Obi who challenged their victory in the February 25, presidential elections.
APC Counsel, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, told the court that there was no need continuing the case, saying it is like “whipping a dead horse”.
He added that the evidence of President Bola Tinubu‘s sole witness, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele was enough to do damage to the petitioners’ case.
“Having taken a sober reflection of the entire case, we have enough evidence and we are not calling any witnesses.
“We do not intend to whip a dead horse, we announce the closure of the case of the 3rd respondent, (the APC),” Fagbemi said.
The five-member panel presided over by Justice Haruna Tsammani, admitted the documents presented by the respondent’s team of Lawyers represented by Wole Olanikpekun, SAN, (for Tinubu and Shettima) and Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, (for the APC) as evidence and further marked them as exhibits despite the objections by the petitioners.
The court gave the respondents 10 days to file their final written addresses, the petitioner 7 days to respond and 5 days to reply on point of law.
Justice Tsammani added that the date for the adoption of the final written addresses would be communicated to the parties.
Also, Tinubu, Shettima, APC have closed their defence in the joint petition by the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar.
