Femi Peters, Abeokuta
Counsel to the Allied People’s Movement (APM), in the ongoing Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, Hon Sebastian, has alleged that their witnesses had been receiving death threats and were under immense pressure not to appear in court.
Sebatian made the allegation, on Wednesday, before an open court presided over by Justice Yusuf Halilu at the Ogun State High Court, Isabo, Abeokuta, the state capital.
In swift reaction, counsel to the APC, Dele Adesina (SAN), opposed the allegation, saying Governor Dapo Abiodun could not hurt even a fly.
Sebastian alleged that the state’s Commissioner of Police, Bashir Makama, had ordered the withdrawal of the Police Security of the Petitioner, who is governorship candidate of the APM, Hon. Abdulkadir Adekunle Akinlade.
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He, therefore, appealed to the Presiding Judge to give them time to examine the security situation and secure their witnesses before presenting them to the court.
Justice Halilu, after listening to both counsels, adjourned the sitting to June 24. He also called on the Commissioner of Police to look into the security threats, saying they must not be trivialised.
He noted that the Petitioner had the right to communicate his fears to the court, adding “We must be alive to achieve our objectives. If indeed there is any iota of truth in these threats. I want the Police, DSS and other security agencies to look into the matter.”
While addressing newsmen shortly after the court proceedings, Sebastian said, “The witnesses who are to come and testify have been threatened just yesterday.
“Father to one of them came here. He said his life is under threat and that his son wanted to kill him. The rest have been under threats as well.
“So, we told the Tribunal that we can’t proceed today after we managed to secure the attendance of three witnesses
“We are going back to look at the security situation and appeal to the authorities. I personally would be making this appeal as well because we counsel, fellow Petitioners and the petitioners themselves need security, to ventilate their grievances at the tribunal, because the tribunals are established by the constitution of Nigeria to have electoral disputes resolved.
“People should be able to come to the law court without any fear. In this case, we have every right to be here and we ask the Inspector General of Police, SSS and all concerned to offer security to us.
“We have just appealed to the Inspector general of Police because I am made to understand by my client that It was the CP himself that withdrew his personal security.
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“Our fate lies more in the hands of the Inspector General of Police than the Commissioner of Police.
“We are not disparaging him, we are not trying to reduce his status, we are only saying the Inspector general of Police should look into our case.”
Reacting, the counsel to the APC, described the decision to adjourn the case as ‘unacceptable’, insisting that the court’s proceedings had been peaceful so far.
“I’m sure this tribunal is taken aback by this allegation and we’re all surprised.
“If they can call 28 witnesses without any molestation, then I don’t know what he is talking about.
“I don’t see or imagine a more peaceful atmosphere than what we are seeing here today. It is evident for everybody to see.
“Beyond that, the person who is the Governor of the state today, my client is a man of peace just like I described him as a dove inside the tribunal room.
“I know him intimately. But, you know we lawyers can make a mountain out of a mole hill, we can describe a no petition as a petition.” he said.
He assured that the Defense counsel would liaise with the Petitioners to meet with the police boss to look into the alleged threats.