An Akwa-Ibom State High Court, sitting in Uyo, has granted the prayer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to issue a Bench Warrant for the arrest of a University of Uyo Don, Prof Ignatius Uduk, accused of involvement in electoral fraud during the 2019 general elections.
The statement signed by the INEC Head of Department (HOD) Voter Education, in Akwa Ibom state, Odaro Aisien, and made available to newsmen, revealed that the Bench Warrant was as a result of the refusal of Professor Igbatu Uduk to obey the Order of the Court.
The statement said that after series of unsuccessful attempts to serve Professor Uduk with the summons to appear before the court in Charge No HU/240c/2020, INEC had filed a motion for Substituted Service which was granted on November 16, 2020.
The Order was subsequently served on the office of the Vice Chancellor, University of Uyo, on November 17, 2020, directing the defendant to appear before the court on November 18, 2020, but when the accused did not appear before the Court, the matter was adjourned to November 23, 2020.
Issuing the Bench Warranty for the arrest of Prof Uduk upon the application of the Counsel to INEC, Kpoobari Sigalo, the Presiding Judge, Hon Justice A E Archibong, frowned at the refusal of the Professor to obey the Order of the Court.
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The statement added that the Court has adjourned the matter to December 9, 2020 when the police is expected to produce the defendant in court.
Prof Ignatius Uduk is accused of declaring election results collated not by him, but by undisclosed individuals who only handed them to him to announce, which he admitted to as fact to the Commission in a signed handwritten statement.
Edited by Tunde Orebiyi
