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Tribunal: Atiku, PDP Indicates Plans To Call 100 Witnesses
Both the Peoples Democratic Party and it’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar are challenging the declaration of the President-elect, Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the February 25 election.
Both PDP and Atiku have indicated plans to call “not more than 100 witnesses” to the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal.
Counsel for Atiku and the PDP, Chris Uche, addressing the court in Abuja on Saturday, said all the parties had met, and considered and agreed on the numbers of witnesses, duration and examination of witnesses.
Uche added that though the new time given them to call the witnesses is seven weeks, they would need three weeks, since the issues were getting narrower.
All the parties in the suit agreed to streamline the numbers of witnesses as well as the duration of each party to call witnesses.
For the evidence in chief, they categorised them into 30 minutes for the lead witness because they will tender and identify documents.
They also proposed 15 minutes for each respondent for cross-examination and five minutes for re-examination of the lead witness of the petitioners. In addition, 10 minutes was proposed for other witnesses of the petitioners, as well as 10 minutes for cross-examination of these witnesses, by the respondents.
The star witnesses of the respondents — the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Tinubu and the APC — 30 minutes was proposed, while 30 minutes was proposed for cross-examination of the respondents’ witness, by the respondents.
INEC said it has two witnesses that will testify, while the counsel to President -elect said it had 39 witnesses ready.
For the President-elect, the report of any star witness should be made available 48 hours before hearing.
The schedule of documents to be filed must be given to other parties before the hearing and calling of witnesses.
Examination of experts/star witnesses was fixed for 20 minutes, while cross-examination by respondents was scheduled for 30 minutes. Re-examination was fixed at five minutes.
Furthermore, examination of non-experts/star witness was scheduled for 10 minutes; cross-examination, 15 minutes; and re-examination at five minutes.
The same applies for the APC. The only difference is the number of witnesses — it has 25 witnesses set to testify.
News
44 lawmakers beg Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu
The lawmakers under the aegis of Concerned Federal Lawmakers, in a letter addressed to the president, urged him to, “as soon as practicable”, direct the Attorney-General of the Federation to exercise his constitutional powers and discontinue the prosecution of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
Forty-four members of the House of Representatives have written to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, appealing for the release of the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, from custody.
The lawmakers under the aegis of Concerned Federal Lawmakers, in a letter addressed to the president, urged him to, “as soon as practicable”, direct the Attorney-General of the Federation to exercise his constitutional powers and discontinue the prosecution of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
The letter was signed by Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, Hon. Harrison Nwadike, Hon. Obi Aguocha, Hon. Murphy Osaro, Hon. Peter Akpanke, Hon. Mudshiru Lukman, Hon. Paul Nnamechi, Hon. Barr. Sunday Cyriacus, Hon. Obed Shehu, Hon. Dominic, Hon. Ugwu Emmanuel, Hon. Daniel Asama Ago, Hon. Chike John Okafor and Hon. Adam Ogene Ogbaru.
Other lawmakers, who signed the letter, are Hon. Emeka Martins Chinedu, Hon. Chimaobi Sam, Hon. Alex Mascot Ikwechegh, Hon. Donatus Matthew, Hon. Ibe Osonwa, Barr. Okey-Joe Onuakalusi, Hon. Mudashiru Lukman, Hon. Thaddeus Atta, Hon. Udema H. Okonkwo, Hon. Cyril Godwin, Hon. Princess Chinwe Nnabuike, Hon. Kama Nkemkama, Hon. Peter Aniekwe, Hon. Gwachem Maureen, Hon. Onwunka, Hon. Anayo Onwuegbu, Hon. Nwobosi Joseph, Hon. Amobi Godwin.
Hon. Princess Chinwe Nnabuike, Hon. Kama Nkemkama, Hon. Peter Aniekwe, Hon. Gwachem Maureen, Hon. Onwunka, Hon. Anayo Onwuegbu, Hon. Nwobosi Joseph, Hon. Amobi Godwin, Hon. Blessing Amadi, Hon. Anthony Adebayo Adepoju, Hon. Dr. Joshua Audu Gana, Hon. Chris Nkwonta, Hon. Emeka Idu, Hon. Peter Ifeanyi Uzokwe, Hon. Matthew Nwogu, Hon. Tochukwu Okere, Hon. Benedict Etanabene, Hon. Godwin Offiono, Hon. Ngozi Okolie and Hon. Nnamdi Ezechi.
(From Daily Trust)
News
President Tinubu Leaves for 20th summit of the G20 Leaders
The G20 Summit, scheduled from Saturday, November 22 to Sunday, November 23, 2025, at the Johannesburg Expo Centre, will bring together leaders from the world’s top 20 economies, including representatives of the European Union, African Union, and global financial institutions.
“President Bola Tinubu will depart Abuja on Wednesday for a two-nation visit to Johannesburg, South Africa and Luanda, Angola.
This was disclosed in a statement released on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
“President Tinubu’s first stop is Johannesburg, where he will attend the 20th summit of the G20 Leaders. After the summit, he will proceed to Angola for the AU-EU summit,” it stated.
The statement added that President Cyril Ramaphosa, the South African leader and current G20 President, invited Tinubu to participate in this year’s edition, while President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil extended a similar invitation during his tenure in 2024.
The G20 Summit, scheduled from Saturday, November 22 to Sunday, November 23, 2025, at the Johannesburg Expo Centre, will bring together leaders from the world’s top 20 economies, including representatives of the European Union, African Union, and global financial institutions.
The theme of the summit, “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” will guide discussions across three plenary sessions.
“Inclusive and Sustainable Growth; Leaving No One Behind: Building our economies, the role of trade, Financing for development and the Debt burden.“A Resilient World: the G20’s Contribution to Disaster Risk Reduction; Climate Change; Just Energy Transitions; Food Systems.“A fair and Just Future for All: Critical Minerals; Decent Work; Artificial Intelligence,” the statement noted.
News
SGF Akume’s Tributes to Dan Agbese
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. Dr. George Akume has expressed sadness over the demise of veteran journalist, Mr. Dan Agbese.
In a statement on Tuesday by Terrence Kuanum Special Adviser on Public Affairs, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Akume lamented that Agbese left the stage at a critical time, noting that his fatherly role and vast experience would be missed.
Senator Akume said that, as a member of the pioneer trailblazers in the media industry who stood firm in defiance to iron-fist grip of military rule, championing the pathway for the restoration of democracy, his passing has created a huge vacuum that would be difficult to fill.
“His death was a monumental national loss. Dan Agbese was a fine gentleman to the core.
He was a man of strong conviction with unimpeachable character, and unwavering determination to achieve great goals against all odds. His perchance for justice, equity and fairness set him apart from the rest.” Sen. Akume stated.
The SGF added that, late Agbese’s sharp prose and decades-long contribution to journalism, that culminated into shaping modern investigative reporting and commentary on the socio-political landscape of Nigeria would be greatly missed by all.”
” Dan Agbese was a doyen of journalism and merchant of biting satire. He was such a versatile, bold and confident writer whose quill dripped brutal frankness.
A mentor and father that professionally refined his mentees and turned them into masters of the pen craft,” he added.
Senator George Akume admonishes the Agbese family, his friends and colleagues in the media industry to take solace in the exemplary and impactful lifestyle that he lived, and pray God for a repose of his soul.
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