The Independent National Electoral Commission has arraigned one Prof. Ignatius Uduk, over alleged electoral fraud.....
Uduk was docked for allegedly publishing false election results during the 2019 State House of Assembly elections when he served as collation/returning officer at Afaha Ikot Ebak in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
The don appeared in court on Wednesday in Uyo after a bench warrant was issued against him.
He was arraigned under charge no: HU/240c/2020, on three count charges of abandonment of duties and generation of false scores on form EC BE (II) on 10th March 2019 at INEC office in Afaha Ikot Ebak during the State House of Assembly elections; announcement and publication of false election result; and lying on oath at the inception of the election petition tribunal.
Uduk pleaded not guilty to the three count charges against him, while his Counsel, Samuel Ndah prayed that the professor be granted bail.
Counsel to INEC, Kpoobari Sigalo, who had filed a counter-affidavit, however, objected that the defendant be granted bail as he had proved to be evasive, adding that they want an accelerated hearing.
He said, “Last time we were before this court and the court issued a bench warrant against the accused. I am very sure that it is because of the bench warrant that he (accused) filed an application for bail.
“Today he came to court, took his plea and his counsel has asked for his bail, we opposed the bail application. When we filed our counter affidavit in opposition to the bail as we saw in court that the matter has been adjourned to December 14 for ruling on that very application.
“The character of the accused person prompted us to object his application for bail. This is not the first matter we are prosecuting. The other one we did not oppose the bail application because the accused person on his own volition came to court.
“Before the last general election, the Commission said it very loud and clear that whosoever that contravenes the Electoral Act of the 1999 Constitution and other guidelines of the electoral process will be severely dealt with.”
The Presiding Judge, Justice Archibong Archbishop, adjourned the case to December 14, 2020, for ruling on the bail application as requested by counsel to the defendant.
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