Onjeh vs Mark: Real reason former Senate President refused to enter witness box

The former Senate President, David Mark on Tuesday shied away from his own defence in the petition filed against him by Mr Daniel Onjeh challenging his return to the senate by INEC.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that Mark’s counsel, Mr Kenneth Ikonne had on Aug 13 asked the National Assembly Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Makurdi for an adjournment to enable him bring Mark as a witness so he could close his case.

However, when the Tribunal resumed hearing today, even with the presence of Mark in the court, Ikonne announced that he would no longer call him as a witness to avoid harassment from petitioner’s counsel, Mr Tunji Oso during cross-examination.

Ikonne also urged the Tribunal to evoke paragraph 41(6) of the First Schedule to the Electoral Act as well as paragraph 20 rule 2(d) of the Federal High Court ruling, 2009 in the evidence before it.

Counsel to all parties in the case did not object to the admissibility of the documents so the Tribunal admitted them and marked them as exhibits.

Counsel to PDP, Mr Chris Alechenu then prayed the Tribunal for a short adjournment, explaining that he did not know that the first respondent would close his case on time so he was not prepared to begin his defence.

The Tribunal Chairman, Justice Mosumola Dipeolu therefore, adjourned the matter to Aug 19, 2015 for continuation of defence.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the proceeding, Onjeh’s counsel said that the implication of Mark’s refusal to testify in his own defence even though his name was among the witnesses was that he had abandoned his defence.

Also speaking to newsmen, Mark’s counsel who earlier called 10 witnesses to defend the case said that he did not want to waste the time of the Tribunal by calling Mark to testify since the petitioner had no case against him.