Lanlehin raises alarm over alleged delay at election tribunal

ACCORD Party’s senatorial candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District, Senator Femi Lanlehin has condemned the handling of his petitions by the election tribunal.

Lanlehin is challenging the election of Senator Soji Akanbi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as winner of the March 28 election.

Lanlehin said the slow pace of proceedings in his petition was worrisome and urged the tribunal not to entertain frivolous applications from the defence counsel in view of the limited time remaining.

At the opening of Akanbi’s defence before the Justice Tanko Usman-led tribunal, his counsel, Chief Olayinka Bolanle, who had told the tribunal he would call 50 witnesses, only brought two.

And when proceedings resumed, only three witnesses were brought as against the 15 promised by Olayinka, while the non-availability of witnesses caused the matter to be adjourned.

Counsel for Lanlehin, Richard Ogunwole (SAN) protested the granting of Olayinka’s application for adjournment , stressing that only 14 days would remain for the lifespan of the petition by the next adjourned date.
He said unbearable pressure would be brought on the petitioner’s counsel and the tribunal, as written addresses would still have to be submitted and judgment delivered within the remaining days.