By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
The embattled University of Uyo (UNIUYO) don, Professor Ignatius Uduk who is standing trial for electoral fraud at Akwa Ibom State High Court will today know if his Application for Leave to Appeal against April 28, 2022 Ruling of the Honourable Court will succeed or be rejected.
This is even as the fiery Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Barrister Mike Igini who is incharge of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Akwa Ibom state is optimistic the outcome of the case will favour the Commission.
Professor Uduk whose ‘No case Submission and Preliminary Objection’ case was dismissed on
April 28, 2022 by same court presided over by Justice Bassey Nkanang, who also ordered the accused person to open his case on June 27 to 30 to state his own side, has gone back to the court to seek Application for Leave to Appeal against April 28, 2022 Ruling.
In a Suit No. HU/Misc. 255/2020 filed at the Akwa Ibom State High Court, Uyo, Professor Uduk is kicking against Justice Bassey Nkanang April 28 Ruling to compel him to open his defence but INEC Akwa Ibom state filed a Counter Affidavits which prompted the court to seat in Uyo today (Wednesday) to determine the case.
INEC legal team led by Clement Onwuenwunor, SAN and Emmanuel Ezeh, Esq. has in
the High Court of Akwa Ibom state of Nigeria in the Uyo Judicial Division Holden in Uyo,
Charge No. HU/ 240C /2020 Btw INEC/Complainant/ Respondent and Professor Ignatius Uduk/Defendant, asked the court to throw away Professor Uduk’s demands.
Should Professor Uduk be convicted for the alleged electoral fraud, he will be the second university don to be sent to jail after a Professor of Soil Science who was also a Returning Officer in the 2019 general elections in Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District was jailed for fraud last year.
Prompt News Online recalls that Professor Peter Ogban was tried and convicted by a High Court in Akwa-Ibom State as he was sentenced to three years in prison for election fraud.
The court had found Ogban guilty of fraudulent manipulation of election results, publishing and announcing of false results just as he was also asked to pay N100,000 fine.
