In a dramatic turn of events at the Lagos State Election Petition Tribunal, a U.S. immigration lawyer, Olubusayo Fasidi, made shocking claims against the Lagos Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat.
The immigration lawyer Claimed the deputy governor took an oath of allegiance in the United States to renounce his Nigerian citizenship.
Fasidi, a Nigerian herself, appeared as a witness before the tribunal on Thursday, presenting compelling evidence to support her allegations.
Mr. Ayeni tendered the documents to the three-member tribunal. However, counsel to all the respondents objected, saying the reason for their objection would be included in their final written addresses.
Under cross-examination by Eric Ogiegor, the counsel for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Fasidi clarified that it is possible for an individual to possess dual citizenship.
Nevertheless, she admitted that she was not familiar with the provisions regarding dual citizenship in Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution. Fasidi explained that her role as a witness was to shed light on U.S. law, not the intricacies of Nigeria’s Constitution.
When Bode Olanipekun (SAN), the counsel for both Hamzat and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, pressed Fasidi to disclose the jurisdiction and date of Hamzat’s naturalization application, the witness invoked the Privacy Act of 1974, refusing to provide the requested information. Fasidi asserted that the details she possessed were protected by law and could not be divulged.
Subsequently, Norris Quakers, the counsel for the All Progressives Congress (APC), questioned Fasidi about whether she was aware that Hamzat had already disclosed his American citizenship.
Confirming this fact, the witness acknowledged Hamzat’s acknowledgment of his American nationality. Quakers then contended that Fasidi had been addressing matters of law rather than factual issues.
Presiding over the tribunal, Justice Arum Ashom admitted all the presented documents into evidence and directed the respondents’ counsel to include their objections in their final written addresses.
Assisting Justice Ashom on the panel are Justice Mikail Abdullahi and Justice L.P. Braimoh. The tribunal adjourned the case until June 26 to continue the hearing, allowing sufficient time for all parties to prepare their arguments.
Earlier in the proceedings, Olumide Ayeni presented a result sheet from polling units in nine local government areas of the state, aiming to establish disparities between the recorded data on INEC’s Form EC 40A and the actual figures.
However, counsel representing INEC, Sanwo-Olu, Hamzat, and the APC raised objections regarding the admissibility of Form EC 40A, reserving detailed explanations for their final written addresses.
The petitioner, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has filed the challenge against the victory of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his running mate, Obafemi Hamzat, in the governorship election held on March 18.
As the tribunal reconvenes on June 26, the fate of Lagos State’s leadership remains uncertain, pending further examination of the evidence and arguments presented.
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