By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
There are strong indications that
Abasidiong Ekpeyong, lead defence lawyer of the embattled University of Uyo (UNIUYO) don, Professor Ignatius Uduk who is standing trial for electoral fraud at Akwa Ibom State High Court, may not show up at the resumed hearing of the case on Wednesday, May 18, 2022 to continue to frustrate the conclusion of the trial, having exhausted and exploited all legal options available.
Presiding judge, Justice Bassey Nkanang,
had on the last adjourned date on May 11, 2022 after both counsels could not agree on a day for the accused lawyer to open his defence, ruled that the defence lawyer open his defence on Wednesday, May 18, 2022.
The court at the last sitting failed to grant Prof. Uduk’s request to apply for Leave to Appeal against the April 28, 2022 ruling of Justice Nkanang, who had earlier dismissed the ‘No case Submission and Preliminary Objection’ case the Prof filed in the court.
The case which has lingered for sometime now due to the reluctance of the accused person and his defence lawyers to open their defence will now come up on Wednesday in Uyo.
But Prompt News has gathered that if the recent absence of Prof Uduk in the court at last sitting is anything to rely upon, either the defence lawyer (Abasidiong Ekpeyong) or the accused may not be in court to prevent the case from going on.
It has been reliably gathered that he may connive with his client not to appear in court at the next adjourned date where he will be expected to open his defence in the trial that has been delayed for a period of five months.
It will be recalled that INEC’s prosecution counsel had closed its case since January 27, 2022 after calling five witnesses some of whom the defence lawyer could not cross examined and had tendered several documentary evidences to prove the criminal attempt to up-turn the Akwa Ibom state North West Senatorial election in the 2019 election.
The no case submission filed, had been Dismissed at the on the 23rd of April sitting by the erudite Justice Bassey Nkanang for lacking merit.
At the last court sitting, the defence lawyer tested the waters when he deliberately failed to come to court with the defendant, Prof Uduk who ought to be in court at every court sitting, given that the case is a criminal trial.
That the defendant will always be in court was one of the conditions for the bail granted him.
Meanwhile, the people of Akwa lbom state and Nigerians are waiting for the outcome of this case to see if justice will be served timely and irrespective of position and status of the parties before the court.