A mild drama occurred at the Anambra State Election Tribunal on Friday when a lawyer, Mr. Nkem Ekweozoh, broke into tears while handling a senatorial election matter.
Ekweozoh, who was the candidate of the Mega Progressive Peoples Party in the January 13 Anambra senatorial rerun election, represented himself in a petition he filed against Senator Victor Umeh declared winner of the poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
But half way during his cross-examination of Umeh, Ekweozoh could not continue as he lowered his face and began to cry, cleaning his face with a white handkerchief.
Noticing the situation, the chairman of the tribunal, Justice H. A. Olusiyi, asked, “What is happening here? You are crying. What for? Oh, my God, a lawyer crying in court? This is unusual. How will all these people in court see you? Do you think they will hire you tomorrow to defend them? I have not seen a thing like this before; a lawyer crying in court?
“Counsel this not the right thing to do. We (lawyers) are trained not to be emotional. This is not the final court; if you don’t get what you want here, you can go upstairs. Lawyers don’t cry.”
Responding, Ekweozoh apologised for his outburst, saying, “My Lord I’m sorry for this. I was crying for justice. My opponents here want to intimate me. My lord, I am weeping for justice. I am sorry.”
However, Umeh, who represents Anambra Central Senatorial district, denied that irregularities marred the election that made him a senator.
He stated this during a cross-examination at the tribunal, adding that the election was a walkover for him as he defeated his opponents overwhelmingly.
Ekweozoh had, while cross-examining Umeh, accused him of screening himself to emerge the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in 2014 when he was still the national chairman of the party.
But in his response, Umeh said he was not a member of the APGA screening committee during the exercise.
The matter was adjourned till July 12 for adoption of addresses.
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