At the weekend, counsel to Accord party’s candidate in the March 28 House of Representatives’ election for Ibadan North East/ South East federal constituency, Mr. Olugbenga Adewusi, Barr. Biodun AbdulRaheem, slumped during sitting of the National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal in Ibadan.
He was, however, resuscitated by a team of lawyers present in court, led by former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Oyo State and counsel to the defendant, Hon. Dapo Lam-Adesina, Mr. Adebayo Mutalubi, who was said to have quickly rushed to his side after another lawyer, Mr. I.O Opeyemi had drawn the attention of the tribunal to his unconscious state.
Based on what was gathered, he was then led out of the court, assisted by other lawyers, while he asked his driver to take him to his doctor.
It was further learnt that AbdulRaheem had sought the consent of the tribunal on Thursday to see his doctor for medical checkup.
An eyewitness said: “The lawyer had been in court since morning, following the adjournment of some cases to today. Barely had he finished a case which was adjourned around 4:30 pm than he put his head on the table.
“As the tribunal chairman beckoned on the registrar to call the next case around 6:50 pm, one of the lawyers who sat beside AbdulRaheem called the attention of the court to the lawyer’s unconscious state and Barr. Ojo quickly rushed to his side to resuscitate him. After he was revived, he was taken outside into his car.”
It was leant that the tribunal then subsequently adjourned its sitting.
One of the lawyers appearing before the tribunal speaking on the issue, said: “He has gone back home. We thank God that he did not die. He is one of the best brains we have in the legal profession in the state.”
“AbdulRaheem is a delight to those who always witness tribunal proceedings as he always marshalled his arguments with authorities. He has spent over two decades in the legal profession.”