By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Efforts by the embattled University of Uyo (UNIUYO) don, Professor Ignatius Uduk who is standing trial for electoral fraud at Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo to continue to frustrate his prosecution has again suffered another setback.
The court on Wednesday failed to grant Prof. Uduk’s request to apply for Leave to Appeal against the April 28, 2022 Ruling of Justice Bassey Nkanang, who dismissed the
‘No case Submission and Preliminary Objection’ case he filed in the court.
During proceedings on Wednesday in Uyo, the defence lawyer, Abasidion Ekpeyoung who was expected to open his defence rather than do so after almost five months of evading opening defence after prosecution had closed its case since on the 27th of January 27, 2022 brought an Application for Leave to Appeal against the 28th April 28 interlocutory ruling against his No case submission.
But the lawyer decided curiously to use a new case number H/MISC/255/2022 which was intended to further cause a delay to open his defence but unfortunately, it worked against him because only the Chief Judge can assign a case file with a new case number which has not been done, though he ought to have used the suit number of the case he is seeking the leave of the court to Appeal against and not a new suit number in his Application.
Also, the defence lawyer deliberately failed to come to court with the defendant (Professor Ignatius Uduk) in a criminal trial.
The professor had only appeared because a Bench warrant was issued by the court for his arrest after evading several service of court summons.
He was on Bail granted him by the court after spending five days in prison custody.
The court was stood down for a while to enable the accused Professor appear in the court.
However, the reluctant defence lawyer pleaded to court to be given more time and asked for any date in the month of June but the court ordered both counsels to choose a date within the next ten days.
But, when both counsels could not agree on a day, the court fixed the May 19, 2022 for the defence to open his case as the matter was adjourned till then.
