Tribunal: Tinubu, APC close defence after calling Bamidele as witness

President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, on Wednesday, closed their case in the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Testifying as the respondents’ star witness, Opeyemi Bamidele,  senator representing Ekiti central, told the court that Tinubu was never indicted, charged or convicted for criminal offences in the United States.

He said the $460,000 forfeited by Tinubu in 1993 was a civil proceeding and not a criminal case.

Several documents were tendered in evidence through the witness.

After the president and vice closed their case, Lateef Fagbemi, counsel to the All Progressives Congress (APC), told the court that he would not be calling witnesses or tendering documents.

Fagbemi said the evidence adduced by the second and third respondents was enough to support the case of the APC.

The APC counsel thereafter closed his case.

Tinubu, Shettima and the ruling party have also closed their defence in the petition filed by the Labour Party (LP) and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

Bamidele was also the sole witness of the respondents.

The five-member panel of the court directed all respondents in the suit to file their final brief of argument within 10 days while the petitioners have seven days to submit theirs.

The respondents were also directed to get their reply to the petitioners’ address five days after they have been served.

The court said the date for the adoption of the final written addresses would be communicated to all parties.