Election tribunal begins sitting in Jos

The three-man National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal for Plateau has began its inaugural sitting on Monday in Jos.
The Chairman of the panel, Justice T. M. Nzeogwu, said at the opening of the session that their mandate was to deliver justice to the people.
He said the panel would proceed with the petitions before it.
Nzwogwu said his team was one of the best in the country and pledged not to discuss matters discussed in the tribunal with other persons.
He said that he would not condone any form of corruption and never accept any kind of gratification from anyone.
He therefore warned litigants to steer clear from approaching the panel with any inducement as they were people of integrity.
The state Commissioner for Justice, Mr Chrisantus Ahmadu, also admonished litigants to be wary of approaching the panel with gratifications in search of favours.
Ahmadu assured the tribunal of a peaceful atmosphere as the state and litigants were people of peace.
The said that there would be no security threats of attack or kidnapping during or after the tribunal’s sitting.
He urged the panel to deliver justice to the people as the court was the last hope for the common man.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other members of the tribunal are Justice M.L. Lawal and Justice I.M. Adejumo.
The pre-hearing started immediately after the inaugural session with four petitions.
The petitions included that of Pam Dongs of the APC Vs Dachung Bagos of the PDP; PDP’s Jonathan Dabo Vs APC’s Murtala Haruna; Bitrus Tawal of the APC Vs Simon Mwadkon of the PDP; and Sanusi Inuwa of the APC Vs I.D Gyang of the PDP.
In the matter involving Dongs who is challenging Bagos, Reps member-elect for Jos East/Jos South federal constituency, INEC’s application for a preliminary objection was declined by the tribunal.
Counsel to Bagos (1st respondent), Mr Sunny Odey, had earlier filed for a preliminary objection by way of motion on notice challenging the competence of the petition against his client.
Counsel to INEC, Mr Desmond Yamah, also prayed to file a preliminary objection to object for a competence of the petition, but the prayer was denied by the panel.
The chairman of the tribunal ruled that INEC has lost its right to file an objection as it failed to include that earlier in their trial answers to the pre-hearing questions which was already before the tribunal.
In the petition filed by Dabo, who contested for the House of Representatives for Jos North/Bassa constituency and lost, his counsel, Mr Sunny Odey, stated that he had three applications which he intended to file.
Odey listed them as the application for a suphoena, motion for additional witness statement on oath, and application challenging the competence of the respondents’ processes and replies.
He requested for three days to enable him do that and was granted by the tribunal.
Mr L.D. Dafer, the counsel to INEC, said the respondents also indicated intention to file an application by way of preliminary objection to the competence of the entire petition and applied for five days to enable him do that which was granted by the tribunal.
The matter was adjourned to May 14, for hearing of applications.
The chairman of the tribunal also adjourned to May 16 for hearing of other applications.