The Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC) has heard that the proceedings before a United States (US) court in respect of which President Bola Tinubu allegedly forfeited $460,000 was a civil forfeiture case.
A lawyer and first petitioners’ witness in the petition by the Labour Party (LP) and Peter Obi, Lawrence Uchechukwu Nnana Nwakaeti, who said this, added that he is not aware of any charge against Tinubu.
Nwakaeti, through whom the petitioners tendered documents in relation to the said US court proceedings, which was marked “exhibit PA5,” said the documents were not registered in Nigeria.
The witness, when being cross-examined by Wole Olanipekun (SAN), lawyer to Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettma, said the documents were not accompanied with a certificate from either the Nigerian Consular in the US or US Consular in Nigeria.
Nwakaeti said he would be surprised if the documents did not indicate that Tinubu was fined.
Under cross-examination by Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), lawyer to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the witness said the documents were also not accompanied with a certificate issued under the hand of a police officer in the US where he alleged that Tinubu was convicted, indicating the sentence and terms of the sentence.
The witness also denied knowing if there was charge filed, adding that he did not have any copy.
Nwakaeti added that he was not aware of the letter of clearance, dated February 4, 2003 issued by the Legal Atache of the US Embassy in Nigeria issued in respect of Tinubu on his alleged prosecution in the US.
INEC’s cross examination of the witness was conducted by Dr. Kemi Pinheiro, SAN.
Under cross examination, Pinheiro asked questions to show that all the averments contained in the witness’ statement on oath were his own subjective legal opinion and issues of law.
The witness agreed under cross examination that he had never published any book on constitutional law and had never been an amicus either at the Court of Appeal or Supreme Court.
Dr. Pinheiro also put it to the witness that he had a penchant for causing crisis everywhere he goes including in his local community.
Earlier, while being led by Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), lawyer to the petitioners, the witness adopted his written witness statement, which he urged the court to adopt as his evidence in the case.
He said beside being a voter, he did not do any other thing on the day of the presidential election, but just votedin his village in Anambra State.
Okutepa also tendered through the witness, some set of documents relating to Shettma ‘s nomination.
Further hearing in the petition has been shifted to Wednesday.
The court has commencement proceedings in the petition by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Atiku Abubakar.
-The Nation
