Tribunal: Senator’s teacher, classmate testify to prove school attendance

The senator representing Kaduna North, Lawal Adamu Usman, has presented two witnesses, his classmate and teacher, before the Election Petition Court in Kaduna in the petition challenging his election.

The petitioner, Abdullahi Muhammad-Sani of the All Progressive Congress (APC), is challenging the election of Usman, claiming that the senator did not attend some schools he listed in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) nomination form.

One of the witnesses, Ibrahim Abdullahi-Jere, on Sunday, July 16, 2023, tendered five exhibits before the court which included a class group photograph of Senator Usman and affidavit of change of name.

Abdullahi-jere told the court that he was the senator’s classmate and also a cousin, adding that they were both enrolled in Demonstration Primary School, Gwagawala, Abuja, together by his father.

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Other documents presented by the witness were original primary school certificate issued by Demonstration Primary School as well as secondary school testimonial.

While cross-examining the witness, the senator’s counsel, M.A Magaji, asked him to identify his name and the lawmaker from primary and secondary school register, which he did.

The second witness, Muhammad Jumah-Yakubu, said he taught the first respondent from primary four to six, between 1984 and 1986.

He tendered his original and photocopy of the appointment letter, letter of assumption of duty as a teacher at Demonstration Primary School, Gwagawalada, and a picture of him and the school head boy and head girl.

The witness also identified the senator’s name on the school register as Lawal Abdullahi-Jere.

The petitioner’s counsel, J.J Usman (SAN), however, objected to the two witnesses and their exhibits.

The three-man panel, therefore, adjourned till July 17, 2023, after the senator’s counsel applied to close the presentation of witnesses for the day.

The second respondent, INEC, and third respondent, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), are expected to open their defence on July 17.

The Star