A Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prosecute Ifeanyi Ubah, and returning officer, Prof. M.N Umenweke, over criminal allegations leveled against them during February 23 election.
Ubah is the Senator-elect for Anambra South senatorial district.
Justice I.B Gafai gave the order on Thursday after senatorial candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the district, Chris Uba, filed an application of mandamus.
Uba prayed the court for “a 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.”
The court asked INEC to, within 14 days, conduct investigation into the matter so as to prosecute Ubah and Umenweke listed as respondents in the matter.
“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,” the order read in part.
