BAYELSA, JULY 20, 2016 – The Supreme court has knocked off the appeal of Gov Henry Seriake Dickson, seeking to stop the Bayelsa Governorhip Election Petition Tribunal from playing a vital video evidence, tendered by Chief Timipre Sylva.The vital video evidence admitted by the tribunal into evidence was denied being played in the open by the tribunal, a decision appealed by Sylva, which saw the court of appeal granting an exparte order, directing the tribunal to play the video in the open.
Not satisfied with the decision of the court of Appeal, Dickson appealed the decision of the court of Appeal to the Supreme court. Though the said video evidence has been played in the open, on the 29th of June 2016, on the order of the court of Appeal, Dickson was still hell bent on making the exercise a nullity.
Addressing their lordships, the lead counsel to Chief Timipre Sylva, Sebastine Hon (SAN), cited several sections from the evidence Act, to show cause why the playing of the video evidence of his client was in order and in line with the evidence Act.
He informed their lordships that the video in question has already been played in the open at the tribunal, as ordered by the court of appeal, and to this, the justices of the supreme court wondered what then have they come before them for.
The counsel to the second respondent, Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), in defense to the already played video, said it was mutually agreed by all the counsels that video should be played owing time constrain before the tribunal, to this, he was also asked if the agreement was recorded.
Tayo’s attempt to get their lordships nullify the key video evidence already played, could not sail through as their lordships deemed it an absurdity trying to stop an incident that has already taken place.
With the Supreme court upholding the decision of the court of appeal on the video evidence, all appears now set for the much anticipated ruling of the tribunal on the suit challenging the validity of Dickson’s governorship.
The supreme court’s decision is a fatal blow to Dickson’s attempt at invalidly perpetuating himself in office.
