Anambra Election: Prosecute Ubah, returning officer – Court orders INEC

A Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prosecute the Senator-elect for Anambra South Senatorial District, Ifeanyi Ubah, and the Returning Officer, Prof M.N Umenweke over criminal allegations leveled against them in the February 23 election in the area.

The order came following an application of mandamus sought from the court by the senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the district, Chris Uba in suit number: FHC/AWK/CS/29/2019.

Handing down the order, the presiding judge, Justice I.B Gafai asked INEC  to within 14 days conduct investigation into the matter for the purpose of prosecuting the respondents.

The order read in part,” 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 Uba)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”.

Uba also asked 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.”