Professor Ignatius Uduk, a lecturer at the University of Uyo, began his new trial on Thursday in the Akwa Ibom State High Court 9, which is located in Uyo, the state capital.
Uduk is facing a three-count accusation of printing and proclaiming fictitious election results.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) filed the complaint against Prof. Uduk, who worked as a collation/returning officer for the Essien Udim State Constituency during the governorship and house of assembly elections on March 9th, 2019.
INEC had filed charges of election fraud against two Uniuyo professors who were working as Adhoc employees.
Professor Uduk’s case was repeatedly adjourned, during which the judge in charge of the case was replaced by a new trial judge. While one of the professors, Peter Ogban, was convicted and sentenced to three years in jail, Professor Uduk’s case was repeatedly adjourned.
The three counts were read to the defendant at the resumption of proceedings, but he pled not guilty to all of them.
As a result, the prosecuting attorney called his first witness, an INEC staff member, who was also cross-examined by the defense attorney.
Justice Bassey Nkanang, the trial judge, then adjourned the case to January 25 to allow for the continuation of cross-examination.
