BY NGOZI OKORIE
THE Independent National Electoral Commission, Akwa Ibom State, on Wednesday, arraigned another lecturer, Prof. Ignatius Uduk, for alleged involvement in electoral fraud during the 2019 polls.
Uduk is the second lecturer to be arraigned by the Commission for electoral fraud in the 2019 election.
He was a Collation and Returning Officer for the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly election in Essien Udim Constituency in the said election.
Uduk was arraigned before the state High Court, Uyo, on a three-count charge, bordering on abandoning his assigned duties as Collation and Returning officer and unlawfully generating scores and entering same in form EC 8E(II), thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 122, subsection 1 of the Electoral Act of 2010 as amended.
He was also accused of announcing and circulating fake election results contrary to and punishable under Section 123 subsections 4 of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended.
The charge against him also included perjury, lying on oath, which INEC said was contrary to Section 119, subsection 1 of the criminal code laws of Akwa Ibom State 2000.
Uduk pleaded “not guilty” to the three-count charge, while his Counsel, Samuel Ndah, filed an application for bail on his behalf.
The bail application was, however, opposed by Prosecution Counsel, Kpoobari Sigalo.
Justice Archibong Archibong adjourned the matter till December 14, 2020 for ruling on the bail application.
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