Posted by By GABRIEL DIKE, Osogbo on
Another drama yesterday played out at the First Osun State election petitions tribunal sitting in Osogbo as the counsel to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Commissioner of Police, like his INEC counterpart, failed to invite any witness to testify on the conduct of the April 2007 election.
Another drama yesterday played out at the First Osun State election petitions tribunal sitting in Osogbo as the counsel to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Commissioner of Police, like his INEC counterpart, failed to invite any witness to testify on the conduct of the April 2007 election.
The counsel to the IGP and the police commissioner, Mr. Niyi Owolade, who sought for adjournment on Tuesday, did not produce any witness on Wednesday but rather applied to close his case.
Following the closure of their cases by the counsels after eight months of proceeding, the Justice Thomas Naron led tribunal has adjourned till June 24 to hear the written address of the four counsels in the petition challenging the election of Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola by the Action Congress (AC) candidate.
When called to present his witnesses, the counsel to the police told the tribunal that after going through the petitioner's evidence, 'we have resolved not to call any witness." He applied to close his case and based on his submission, Justice Naron closed the case.
On the written address, the PDP counsel, Otunba Kunle Kalejaye, requested for eight days to reply the petitioner, while AC counsel, Mr. Adetunji Ajabge, asked for seven days. The police lawyer told the tribunal that he would submit his written address within ten days and INEC applied for eight days to file its address.
Justice Naron said: 'There will be no extension, you have enough time to file your written address," stressing that the counsels have given dates for their addresses and adjourned till June 24 to hear the written address.
Meanwhile, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) has expressed serious concern over the rising number of road accidents along Ilesa-Ife-Ibadan Road and other spots in Osun, Oyo and Ondo States.
The Zonal Commanding Officer FRSC, Mr. Linus A. Nwugo, who disclosed this during a courtesy call on the leadership of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Osun State Council, noted that accident trends in zone 11 of the commission, comprising Osun, Oyo and Ondo States, have been on the increase since the beginning of this year.
According to him, comparative analysis and statistics have pointed to a tale of woes, particularly at Gbongan junction along Ife/Ibadan Road, urging journalists to support the FRSC in order to arrest the situation.