Atiku Abubakar is a true Nigerian, witness tells tribunal

A witness in the February 23, 2019 general election, Magdiel Samaki, yesterday told the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal that Atiku Abubakar is a true Nigerian and as such legally qualify to run for the country’s presidency.

Samaki, who hails from Adamawa State, in his evidence, stated that he was aware with the aid of detailed records that Atiku was born on November 25, 1946 in Jada, Northern part of Nigeria.

Led in evidence by Atiku’s lead counsel, Chris Uche (SAN), he informed the tribunal that Atiku’s record at his former secondary school was not confidential and could be accessed by anyone who doubted his nationality.

The witness, who said he retired from service in 2006, admitted that he saw Atiku’s details from the records custodian in their secondary school and that the records are still available for anybody to verify.

Samaki further told the tribunal that he has a fair knowledge of Nigeria’s history as it relates to Jada in Adamawa and that in 1946 when Atiku was born, Jada was part of Northern Nigeria and not Northern Cameroon as APC’s counsel Akin Olujinmi (SAN) had suggested.

He also denied the fact that any part of Northern Nigeria including Jada was ever ceded to Cameroon.

Another witness, Mohammed Kabir Hayatu, a retired Customs Officer, supported the earlier evidence that Atiku is a bona fide Nigerian.

Hayatu, who was also led in his evidence in Chief by Atiku’s lawyer told the tribunal that he came in contact with Atiku’s record in the Nigerian Customs Service where Atiku retired as a senior Customs Officer.

Under cross-examination, Hayatu said Adamawa was part of Northern Nigeria and that Jada fell on the part of Nigeria and not Northern Cameroon.

President Muhamadu Buhari had objected to Atiku’s and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP’s) petition against his election on the ground that Atiku was not qualified to contest the presidential election with him because he (Atiku) was not a Nigerian by birth but a Cameroonian.

Additional nine witnesses were called yesterday, most of who testified of alleged manipulation of results by APC and its agents.

One Peter Alli in his evidence alleged that an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) identified as Abubakar Kaura, was found with of $10,000 on elections day.

Ali who said he was the ward collation officer also alleged that the money was a bribe for the INEC officer to manipulate the outcome of the election results in the area of Nasarawa State.