The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has arraigned Prof. Ignatius Uduk, who was the returning officer in Essien Udim state constituency in the 2019 general elections in court for allegedly declaring false election results.
Uduk who allegedly declared and published false election results during the 2019 State House of Assembly elections, was said to have been on the run to avoid being served with court notice.
However, he was finally issued bench warrant before he appeared in Court on Wednesday in Uyo.
Uduk, who had threatened court action against INEC when he was asked to face the election petition tribunal set up for that purpose.
He was arraigned under charge no: HU/240c/2020, on three count charge bordering on abandonment of duties and generation of false scores on form EC BE (II) on March 10, 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.
He pleaded not guilty to the three count charge against him, while his Counsel, Mr Samuel Ndah, prayed that the Professor be granted bail.
Counsel to INEC led by 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.
“Last time we were before this honourable 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 application for bail.
“So today he actually came to court and took his plea and his counsel has asked for his bail. We actually opposed to that 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 14 December for ruling on that very application.
“The character of the accused person actually prompted us to object his application for bail. This is not the first matter we are prosecuting. The other one we did not oppose to 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,” he stated.
The Presiding Judge, Honourable Justice Archibong Archibong adjourned the case to 14th December 2020 for ruling on the bail application as requested by Counsel to the defendant.
