“Judge Issues Bench Warrant for Professor Ignatius Uduk’s Arrest After Court Absence”

A High Court in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has ordered the arrest of Professor Ignatius Uduk, a lecturer at the University of Uyo, after he failed to appear in court for the judgment of his trial on alleged election fraud.

Professor Uduk, who heads the Department of Human Kinetics at the university, is being prosecuted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on charges related to the 2019 general elections. He is accused of three counts of perjury and for announcing and publishing false election results during the Essien Udim State Constituency election, where he served as the returning officer. Uduk pleaded not guilty to the charges when he was initially arraigned in December 2020.

During Wednesday’s proceedings, the trial, which was scheduled for judgment, was briefly adjourned after Uduk and his lawyer failed to show up in court. When the session resumed, defense lawyer Ndifreke Inyangette explained that the professor’s counsel was unwell and had asked him to hold a brief for him via text message.

The prosecution, led by Clement Onwuenweunor, requested that the professor’s bail be revoked and a fresh bench warrant issued for his arrest. The prosecution also sought that the judgment be delivered in Uduk’s absence, with sentencing to follow if convicted. Justice Bassey Nkanang granted the request, revoking Uduk’s bail and issuing a new arrest warrant.

The trial, which has been delayed multiple times, has faced numerous setbacks, including a change in defense counsel and an incident in which the professor collapsed during cross-examination. The court had already issued an arrest warrant for Uduk in November 2020 after he repeatedly failed to appear for the start of the trial.

The case is set to resume on February 5, when the court is expected to deliver its judgment.