Don’t rely on my report, Agagu’s witness tells tribunal

Yinka Oladoyinbo, Akure - 02.05.2008

An expert witness called by the Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Agagu, to defend his victory at the April 14, 2007 governorship election, on Thursday, told the election petition tribunal in Akure not to rely on his expert report before it.

The witness, Dr. Gabriel Temidayo Apata, said the tribunal should not rely on the report he prepared on the findings of forensic and finger print experts called by the Labour Party (LP) because of the flaws therein.

He said this at the resumed hearing of the petition filed by the governorship candidate of the LP, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, to challenge the return of Agagu as the governor of the state by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Under cross examination by counsel to the LP candidate, Dr. Olumide Ayeni, the witness, who came from Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji-Arakeji, admitted that there were many errors in his report.

He, however, said the reports, which were mainly on coding and numbering of units and wards, where, he said, he had worked, had typographical errors.

Apata, who holds a doctorate degree in Agricultural Economics, said he had earlier analysed the reports presented by three experts called by the LP, including that of the foremost British forensic expert, Mr. Adrian Forty.

However, when asked by Ayeni if the tribunal could still accept the report as exhibit with all the flaws so identified in it, Apata said “No.”

The chairman of the tribunal, Justice Garba Nabaruma, had earlier tongue-lashed the witness for attempting to evade some questions thereby confusing the tribunal.