Trial of Accused UNIUYO Professor Suffers Major Setback As INEC Shares Powerful Revelation
- INEC on Wednesday revealed to the court in Akwa Ibom State that the medical report submitted by the defence counsel for Prof. Ignatius Uduk is forged
- This disclosure was made possible through an investigation by the Commissioner of Police, Special Squad, Lagos State Police Command
- Meanwhile, the trial suffered another setback due to the absence of the Defence counsel, Abasiodiong Ekpenyong in Court on Wednesday
On Wednesday, July 27, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) told an Akwa Ibom State High Court that the medical report tendered by the defence counsel for Prof. Ignatius Uduk, indicating that he was diagnosed of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, was fake.
Uduk, a professor of Physical and Health Education, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, is standing trial on three-count of electoral fraud bordering on announcing fake election results, publication of fake result scores and lying under oath.
Source: Facebook
Prof. Ignatius Uduk's medical report
Counsel for the defendant, Abasidiong Ekpenyong, had earlier tendered a medical report from the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, dated June 17, 2022 and signed by the Snr. Registrar, Dr. Akintunbo A. O, The Punch reports.
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Lagos police commissioner's findings
However, during resumed proceedings in Uyo in which the defence counsel was absent due to ill health, counsel for INEC, Clement Onwuenwunor (SAN), tendered a report from the Lagos State Police Commissioner saying the earlier report on the ill health of the accused was forged.
Prof Ignatius Uduk reacts
Reacting to the forged medical report, the accused, Prof Ignatius Uduk, said he was not privy to the matter, saying the case has dragged for too long.
Judge reacts
In his response, the trial judge, Justice Bassey Nkanang, while expressing dismay that the defence counsel had delayed the case for too long, denied the application of INEC to revoke the bail of the accused.
The judge insisted that the defence must open its defence at the next adjourned date of August 8, 2022, saying:
“I will not revoke the bail but we must return within this legal year and complete defences.”
Judge sends Nigerian human rights lawyer to prison
Inibehe Effiong, a human rights lawyer in Akwa Ibom, has been sent to prison by the chief judge of the state, Justice Ekaette Obot.
In a message posted on social media on Wednesday, July 27, the Lagos-based lawyer claimed that he went slammed the verdict by Justice Obot for "defending Leo Ekpenyong in a libel suit filed by Governor Udom Emmanuel.
He said
“I have been sent to Uyo prison by the Chief Judge of Akwa Ibom State, Justice Ekaette Obot, for one month for defending Leo Ekpenyong in a libel suit filed by Governor Udom Emmanuel."
Former CJN Muhammad Tanko, 14 other Supreme Court jlstices Lined up for probing
Meanwhile, shortly before the resignation of the former chief justice of Nigeria, Muhammad Tanko, there were allegations of corruption levelled against his person by some Supreme Court justices.
In a move to ensure that all issues of corrupt allegations in the judiciary are cleared, lawmakers of the Nigerian Senate have invited the affected justices.
The justices were invited to the Senate for probe by the Senate Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Legal Matters over allegations of corruption against him.
Source: Legit.ng
