BRIEF UPDATE ON TODAY’S PROCEEDINGS AT THE ENUGU STATE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION TRIBUNAL:
2 min read1. Barr. Victor Udeh was at the tribunal earlier today to give evidence for and on behalf of Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mba. For the benefit of those who are not conversant with the name, Udeh is the current Chief of Staff to Mba. Coincidentally, Udeh was Mba’s lawyer who was later charged alongside Chimaroke, Sam Ejiofor, Chinyeaka Oha and Mba for money laundering and other ancillary offences.
2. In the course of Examination-in-Chief, Udeh tendered 18 exhibits. Those exhibits were letters and correspondence between his office and NYSC, Nigerian Ports Authority and others.
3. Under Cross Examination, Udeh admitted that there was nothing before the court evidencing that those letters were truly exchanged between his office and other offices; an indication that those letters were assembled for the purposes of today’s proceedings.
4. Still under Cross Examination, Udeh admitted that he is aware that Mba collected the Discharge Certificate as contained in his Statement on Oath..
5. Shockingly, when Asiwaju Awomolo (SAN) called for the charge sheet where Chimaroke, Mba, Oha and Ejiofor and Udeh were charged at the federal high court, Lagos, it was like hell was let loose. Udeh started panting to the extent that he was asked to read to the charge, he lost his voice.
6. Aside from other evidentiary incongruities arising from Udeh’s testimonies, it could be deduced from his demeanour that he was not really prepared for the shock he received in court.
7. In all, the LP and Edeoga fielded 30 witnesses to support their case.
8. The first Respondent ( Inec), did not field any witness.
9. The second Respondent (Mba) fielded two witnesses.
10. The third Respondent, (PDP) fielded one witness.
11. The matter was adjourned to the 16th August, 2023 for adoption of final written addresses.