Buhari, APC close cases at presidential election tribunal

By ADEBAYO OBAJEMU 

Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari and his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) have closed their case at the hearing of the petition brought by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challenging Mr Buhari’s election.

The president and his party made this known at the continuation of the presidential election petition tribunal on Thursday.

The lawyer representing Mr Buhari, Wole Olanipekun, announced the decision of his client to close their case, at the opening of the session on Thursday.

He told the court that they were satisfied with the information already before the court and were subsequently convinced of the need to close their case.

Mr Olanipekun said they took the decision after studying all the documents presented by the PDP and other matters that had arose in the trial.

“We have studied the hardware and the software of the petition: the evidences presented by the petitioners vis-a-vis the issues arising and the evidences we have also adduced.

“We are very satisfied with the evidences we have led and we will be closing our case,” Mr Olanikpekun said.

The APC also argued that the evidence presented by the PDP helped its submission.

According to the APC lawyer, Lateef Fagbemi, his clients were eternally in grateful to the PDP.

“Normally it is the turn of the third respondent to open our case. I have thought about it. If I am grateful to chief Olanipekun, I am entirely grateful to the petitioners. With respect, having reviewed our petition, there is no point to indulge in an overkill exercise,” Mr Fagbemi said.

“For the third respondents, we are satisfied with the cross-examination and evidences tendered in this case. As the leader, I announce the closure of the third respondent’s case.”

Mr Buhari had opened his defence on Tuesday, after the PDP closed its case.

Mr Buhari presented seven witnesses who all focused on proving his educational qualifications during their defence.