Former Senate President, David Mark, has denied claims that he refused to enter the witness box when he appeared before the Benue State Election Petition Tribunal where he is currently defending his victory in the March 28 election.
Mark’s victory at the Benue South Senatorial District, is being challenged by Daniel Onjeh, the All Progressives Congress candidate in the election.
At the proceedings in Markurdi, the Benue State capital, last week the tribunal admitted documents showing that the election of the former senate president followed due process.
Reacting to reports that Mark refused to face the panel, his media aide, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Sunday said Mr. Mark was not invited to the witness box by the tribunal throughout the proceedings of that day and therefore the issue of refusal to enter the witness box never arose.
“If Senator Mark appeared in the Tribunal, why would he refuse to enter the witness box if the panel so desires to invite him?” the statement said.
“For the record, when Senator Mark appeared at the tribunal, his counsel Ken Ikonne merely announced his presence and he (IIkonne) proceeded to address the panel. At no point did he or the panel invite Senator Mark to the witness box.
“Ikonne thereafter tendered three documents which were neither contradicted nor objected to by the opponent’s counsel before the Tribunal admitted same as evidence.”
The statement warned that no matter the level of interest, media practitioners should not allow themselves to be ready tools in the hands of mischief makers and become agents of treachery and blackmail.
It urged journalists to abide by the sacred tenets of journalism “which among other things upholds the sanctity of the truth at all times no matter the level of interest because it take good conscience to practice journalism.” .
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