Justice Bassey Nkanang of the High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has ordered the arrest of a prominent Professor , Prof. Ignatius Uduk, accused of election fraud during the 2019 general elections.
Professor Uduk, a professor of Human Kinetics at the University of Uyo, stands accused of perjury and the dissemination of false election results while serving as the returning officer for Essien Udim State Constituency.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been pursuing the case against him.
The court’s decision to issue a fresh bench warrant for Uduk’s arrest came after both the defendant and his legal counsel failed to appear for the scheduled judgment.
Despite being aware of the professor’s health issues, the court proceeded with the prosecution’s request to revoke Uduk’s bail, citing repeated failures to attend court proceedings.
During the hearing, the prosecution counsel, Clement Onwuenweunor, and an INEC representative were present and reiterated their readiness for the judgment.
On the other hand, the defense counsel, represented by Ndifreke Inyangette, informed the court that Uduk’s primary lawyer was indisposed and had asked him to stand in, a claim supported by a text message from the absent attorney.
Justice Nkanang, acknowledging the situation, affirmed that the court had been informed of Uduk’s health condition through medical reports but proceeded to grant the prosecution’s request.
The judge revoked Uduk’s previous bail and issued the fresh bench warrant, adjourning the case to February 5 for the delivery of judgment.
This development marks a continuation of legal challenges for Professor Uduk, who was initially arraigned in December 2020 following repeated instances of non-appearance that prompted an earlier arrest warrant.
Throughout the proceedings, the case has faced delays attributed to various factors, including changes in legal representation and the defendant’s health complications.
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