A Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] to, within 14 days, prosecute the Senator-elect for Anambra South Senatorial District, Ifeanyi Ubah, and the Returning Officer, Prof M.N Umenweke over alleged electoral fraud.
The Court gave the order in suit number: FHC/AWK/CS/29/2019 following allegations of criminal breach proffered against them in the February 23 election.
The order came following an application of mandamus sought from the court by the senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP] in the district, Chief Chris Uba.
Ruling, the presiding judge, Justice I.B Gafai asked INEC to conduct investigation into the matter with the intent of prosecuting the respondents.
Justice Gafai ruled: “Upon the honourable court having delivered a considered judgement today, it hereby ordered as follows: The 1st Respondent (INEC) shall within 14 days from today conduct or cause investigation into the criminal allegations of the Applicant (Chris Uba).
“Prosecute, if the investigation result so warrants, the third Respondent (Ifeanyi Ubah)and any other person(s) implicated in its investigation.
“Where it considers it inexpedient to prosecute through its legal officers, consider at its liberty, the appointment of the Applicant’s solicitors in this suit for the purpose of such prosecution”.
Chief Uba also sought “further order of mandamus compelling the 1st Respondent to prosecute the second ( Prof MN Umenweke) for announcing or publishing a false result to the effect that the 3rd Respondent had won the election held on the said 23/2/2019 even when they both knew that the said election was inconclusive and from which no genuine result had thereby been generated.”
