Defend yourself, INEC tells Uduk as court adjourns

Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged Prof.Ignatius Uduk, accused of announcing and publishing false election results and lying under oath, to clear his name without further delay.

Uduk, a professor of Physical and Health Education at the University of Uyo, was the collation/returning officer for Essien Udim State Constituency in the 2019 general elections.

Speaking after the court session yesterday at the Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo, counsel to INEC, Mr. Clement Onwuenwunor, said the defence counsel delayed proceedings when he filed an application with a different suit number, which required a different file.

Onwuenwunor stated that the prosecution had closed its case since January 27, which gave the defence counsel sufficient time to put up their defence if they had any, but the defence counsel failed in that regard.

“After the ruling on January 27, we expected them to come up with a defence if they have any, but unfortunately we’re seeing some form of filibustering so far.

“Yes, he filed a case but in a different file; not in the substantive case file. So it was filed with a different suit number and a different file. The procedure of the registry is that before the judge can handle such file, it must come through the chief judge. So that application frustrated that case from being heard together.

“We have been ready since January. We’ve called five witnesses in this matter with an avalanche of evidence, documents and then on this side, we’re comfortable with the case we’ve presented and we have been appealing to them that there’s every need to ask for the defence to clear his name,” he stated. The presiding judge, Justice Bassey Nkanang, adjourned the case till May 18.