By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
The fight against election malpractices has received a further boost as the National Industrial Court sitting in Uyo, capital of Akwa Ibom state has dismissed the case of a staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr. Sunday Ernest Ushie, challenging his sack on the grounds of fraud.
This is even as the court presided over by Honourable Justice M.A. Namtari had on Wednesday July 20, 2022, dismissed the case filed by Ushie and upheld the decision of INEC Akwa Ibom state headed by Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Barrister Mike Igini.
INEC had on August 7, 2022 terminated the appointment of Ushie who worked in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Department of the Commission.
He was accused of tampering with Data Base of INEC at the eve of the 2019 General Elections and engaged in unauthorised transfer of registered voters without INEC permission and was also found in possession of several Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) contrary to the rules of INEC.
INEC constituted a panel at its Akwa Ibom state office to investigate these infractions and Ushie was found culpable, and as required by INEC Staff Conditions of Service, the Panel’s Report was escalated to INEC Headquarters in Abuja for total review and re-investigation.
The Committee constituted at the Headquarters to re-investigate the infractions still returned guilty verdict on Ushie as a result of which his appointment was terminated.
He however, challenged the termination of his appointment at the National Industrial Court, Uyo but the Suit was dismissed during the week.
INEC was defended in the Suit by Clement Onwuenwunor, SAN .who applauded the judgment as timely and will henceforth serve as deterrence to permanent and ad hoc staff of INEC who may be used by politicians to compromise and sabotage the vision and mission of INEC to conduct free, fair and credible elections.
Also awaiting court verdict over the 2019 elections are two more cases of the dismissed staff who acted as Supervising Officer (SPO) at Nsit Ubium who gave out 10 result sheets form EC8A to politicians and could not account for them on the eve of election that led to violence and election could not be conducted.
The second staff handed over 13 card readers on the night of the day before the Presidential and National Assembly elections in 2019 to a politician from one of the North West Senatorial District of Akwa lbom state.
