A Nigerian professor, Ignatius Uduk, who served as the returning officer for the 2019 general election in Essien Udim State Constituency, Akwa Ibom, is facing arrest after failing to appear in court for judgment. A High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, issued a bench warrant for his arrest on Wednesday, following repeated absences from court proceedings.
Uduk, a professor of Human Kinetics at the University of Uyo, is being prosecuted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for charges of perjury and publishing false election results during the 2019 elections. These accusations stem from his role as the returning officer in Essien Udim, a constituency linked to former governor Godswill Akpabio.
The case has been delayed multiple times, due to factors including the defendant’s health issues and changes in his defense counsel. On Wednesday, Uduk’s lawyer, who communicated his inability to attend via text message, informed the court that he was unwell. Despite the defendant’s absence, the court moved forward with the prosecution’s request to revoke Uduk’s bail and issue a fresh bench warrant for his arrest.
The professor had initially pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against him by INEC. The case, which began in December 2020, has faced repeated delays, including Uduk collapsing during cross-examination.
The judge, Bassey Nkanang, acknowledged the professor’s health issues but ruled to proceed with the case, scheduling judgment for February 5. If convicted, Uduk may face sentencing after the judgment is delivered.
