BEFORE AKPABIO WINS ROUND THREE AT THE TRIBUNAL

Today, The National Assembly Elections Petition Tribunal will reconvene at it's locus in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital.

The matter was adjourned from Friday, May 10, 2019 to today Monday, May, 13, 2019 for COMPLETION OF PRE-TRIAL CONFERENCE.

Let the public be therefore informed that at this stage of a trial; Pre-trial conference, no one can be said to have won, even a first round.

A pre-trial conference is an administrative legal technique for the streamlining of legal issues to reduce the unnecessary excesses that the court may have to comb through at trial. At this stage the issues handled may include;

a) Agreement on issues to be argued in the trial
b) agreement on number of witnesses to be called by all parties
c) agreement on whether there is need for expert witness and who is calling same
d) agreement on documents to be tendered and admitted
e) agreement on number of days required for each party's case

...And other preliminary issues.

It is after this stage that the court will settle for the real subject of litigation.

When you read that Akpabio has won round three today... simply understand that it is the handwork of idle mischief or the vituperations of a legal ignoramus.

Good morning, Akwa Ibom

(C) Anietie Charles