Four staffers of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Thursday, testified against Professor Ignatius Uduk of the University of Uyo, over alleged electoral fraud.
This was as INEC closed its case at the trial of Professor Uduk, who was the Returning Officer, during the conduct of the 2019 governorship and House of Assembly elections in Essien Udim Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
In Akwa Ibom High Court, Uyo, Miss Okpash Geraldine, the Supervising Presiding Officer in Odoro Ikot Two, Ward Seven was the first person to mount the witness box for her testimony.
This was followed by Mr. Ndueso Udoka; and Mr. Amba Anso Amba, the third prosecution witness and Supervising Presiding Officer in charge of Ukana West One Registration Area Two. He also served as the INEC Supervising Presiding Officer in Ekpenyong One.
The last witness was Mr. Sebastian Etefia, the Supervising Presiding Officer in Adiasim Registration Area One in the Governorship and House of Assembly elections, conducted March 9, 2019.
Read also:Alleged
- Court adjourns trial of UNIUYO Professor over Electoral fraud
- Akwa Ibom Court Grants Lecturer Bail Over Alleged Electoral Fraud
- 2019 Elections: Court Orders Arrest Of Professor Over Electoral Fraud
The witnesses made depositions on oath and adopted same as evidence, tendered as exhibits without any objection by the Defense Counsel.
In their separate statements, the witnesses told the Court that on the election day, they took possession of the election materials with Presiding Officers and other polling officials in their respective units, when thugs invaded, moving from one polling unit to another, hijacking election materials.
They said the thugs beat up ad-hoc staff and took them to unknown destination where ballot papers were to be thumb-printed in favour of APC.
The INEC staff also said after invading the INEC Office, the thugs destroyed election materials, thereby making collation impossible.
The witnesses said they were however shocked that a declaration of a winner of the election was made on the same date, when the collation never took place.
After the evidence of the prosecution, the Defence opted for a no-case submission, an application, which was granted by the presiding judge, Hon. Justice Bassey Nkanang.
The case has been adjourned to February 24, 2022, for adoption of written address of Counsel on the no-case submission.
