A Forensic expert, Samuel Oduntan, on Thursday appeared before the Osun State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal in defence of the forensic report conducted on some election materials/BVAS machines in the July 16 governorship election.
The forensic report was also admitted as exhibit by the tribunal after Oduntan was crossed-examined by the petitioners’ counsel, Akin Olujimi (SAN).
Oduntan told the court that the report was arrived at after forensic audit on some election materials in the governorship election.
He said the respondent (Governor Ademola Adeleke) had also instructed him to carry out physical inspection as well as digital forensic examination on the BVAS machines used for the election.
He said it was also in pursuant to the Order of the Tribunal on September 2, 2022 directing INEC to allow the 2nd Respondent inspect all the electoral materials used in the election.
He said: “The 2nd Respondent instructed me to carry out physical inspection as well as digital forensic examination on the BVAS machine devices used for the election.”
Oduntan said his observations were reached in consonance with the global best practices required of a statistician/forensic examiner in reaching the observations and discoveries made therein.
He added: “I examined BVAS machines obtained from INEC, CTC of Forms EC8A, EC8B, EC8C and EC8D.
“I also examined CTC of Forms EC40G, INEC Osun State Directory of Polling Units, 2022; BVAS Authentication Report and BVAS Machines.
“Other documents examined are INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the conduct of elections, 2022 and Manual for Election Officials 2022.”
Earlier, the petitioner’s counsel, Olujimi, cross examined another witness presented by the second respondent (Adeleke), Rev. Bunmi Jenyo, on the educational qualification of Adeleke for the Osun State governorship.
Jenyo told the court that Adeleke did not forge any certificate or had any conflict in his certificates and was qualified to contest for the election.
He said that all the schools attended by the governor in the United States confirmed his certificates, transcripts across the various schools.
He added: “The certificates and schools attended were also reviewed and their legality confirmed by the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Education.”
In his response, Olujinmi questioned the authenticity of some documents tendered by Jenyo before the court and reserved his contention in his final written address.
The News Agency of Nigeria further reports that the third respondent (Peoples Democratic Party) counsel, Alex Iziyon (SAN), opened his case and informed the court that he was not calling any witness.
Iziyon said that he relied on the other witnesses called by the first and second respondents.
The Tribunal Judge, Tertsea Kume, however, adjourned the case until January 13, 2023 for continuation of hearing.