The sitting of Ekiti Election Petition Tribunal was abruptly terminated after the appearance of witness who brought into the courtroom his amputated leg in a bucket as exhibit.
The stench forced Justice Hamman Barka to stop proceedings at 9.55 a.m. after the appearance of Mr Ajayi Segun, an Action Congress (AC) witness.
Segun entered the courtroom on crutches at about 9.40 a.m, accompanied by a man simply identified as "Garru" who carried the plastic bucket where the decaying amputated leg was kept.
A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent covering the sitting, noted that for about two minutes lawyers, journalists, members of the tribunal and those that were present had to use their handkerchiefs to cover their noises from the offensive smell.
Segun told the tribunal that he lost his leg after a policeman allegedly shot him at Usi-Ekiti in Ido-Osi council area of the state during the April 25, governorship re-run election.
During evidence, apparently when the odour became offensive, the judge called for an adjournment for 20 minutes, announcing that the tribunal would resume at 10.15 a.m.
The courtroom was disinfected and air fresheners applied by court officials.
Earlier, Chief Adebayo Adenipekun (SAN), counsel to Gov. Segun Oni had drawn the attention of the tribunal to the odour and sought the leave of the tribunal for a brief adjournment.
``My lords, in view of this unpleasant odour in the courtroom, I wish to seek the leave of the tribunal for a brief adjournment for the courtroom to be fumigated,'' Adenipekun said.
However, at about 10.45 a.m. when it was obvious that the smell was still in the air, the Tribunal Assistant Secretary, Mr Adamu Aliu announced the termination of sitting.
Aliu said that Justice Barka had adjourned sitting to Tuesday, Sept. 29.
It will be recalled that the AC governorship candidate, Dr Kayode Fayemi is challenging the election of Oni of the PDP at the April 25 governorship re-run election.
Offensive odour forces tribunal to adjourn
The sitting of Ekiti Election Petition Tribunal was abruptly terminated after the appearance of witness who brought into the courtroom his amputated leg in a bucket as exhibit.
The stench forced Justice Hamman Barka to stop proceedings at 9.55 a.m. after the appearance of Mr Ajayi Segun, an Action Congress (AC) witness.
Segun entered the courtroom on crutches at about 9.40 a.m, accompanied by a man simply identified as "Garru" who carried the plastic bucket where the decaying amputated leg was kept.
A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent covering the sitting, noted that for about two minutes lawyers, journalists, members of the tribunal and those that were present had to use their handkerchiefs to cover their noises from the offensive smell.
Segun told the tribunal that he lost his leg after a policeman allegedly shot him at Usi-Ekiti in Ido-Osi council area of the state during the April 25, governorship re-run election.
During evidence, apparently when the odour became offensive, the judge called for an adjournment for 20 minutes, announcing that the tribunal would resume at 10.15 a.m.
The courtroom was disinfected and air fresheners applied by court officials.
Earlier, Chief Adebayo Adenipekun (SAN), counsel to Gov. Segun Oni had drawn the attention of the tribunal to the odour and sought the leave of the tribunal for a brief adjournment.
``My lords, in view of this unpleasant odour in the courtroom, I wish to seek the leave of the tribunal for a brief adjournment for the courtroom to be fumigated,'' Adenipekun said.
However, at about 10.45 a.m. when it was obvious that the smell was still in the air, the Tribunal Assistant Secretary, Mr Adamu Aliu announced the termination of sitting.
Aliu said that Justice Barka had adjourned sitting to Tuesday, Sept. 29.
It will be recalled that the AC governorship candidate, Dr Kayode Fayemi is challenging the election of Oni of the PDP at the April 25 governorship re-run election.
