Court adjourns trial of University Don to December 14
The trial of Professor Ignatius Uduk, of the Department of Physical and Health Education, University of Uyo (UNIUYO) before Akwa Ibom State High Court 9 has been adjourned till December 14, 2021.
Justice Bassey Nkanang adjourned the case at the resumed trial on Thursday, December 2, 2021, to seek direction on the pending ruling of the verbal objection raised by the defence Counsel.
The Judge asked the defence and Prosecution counsels to file all their arguments and replies respectively for adoption and ruling on the next adjourned date.
The former trial Judge, Justice Archibong Archibong had adjourned for ruling on the objections raised by Mr Abasiodiong Ekpenyong, Counsel to the accused person but before the adjourned date the Judge was elevated to a new Court.
It would be recalled that Ekpenyong had raised verbal objections that has to do with the qualification of Mr. Clement Onwuenwunor, as a new counsel mandated to represent INEC in the case.
Onwuenwunor, replaced former INEC’s lead counsel in the case, Kpoobari Sigalo.
The defence counsel, Ekpenyong had also raised objections on why Onwuenwunor should take over halfway into the case.
Prof. Uduk was arraigned by INEC on December 9, 2020, under charge of no HU/240c/2020 on three-count charges of abandonment of duties and unlawful generation of false scores during the Essien Udim state Assembly elections in 2019.
He is also standing trial for the announcement and publication of false election results, and lying on oath at the inception of the election petition tribunal.