Ifeanyi Ubah

The Federal High Court sitting in Awka, Anambra State has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct investigation and subsequently prosecute Dr. Ifeanyi Ubah of the Young Progressives Party (YPP) over criminal allegations brought against him before the court within 14 days.

Also to be investigated and prosecuted is the Returning Officer for the Anambra South Senatorial election, Prof. M.N. Umenweke, who initially returned Ubah and later declared the election inconclusive.

The order came following an application of mandamus by the senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Anambra South, Chief Chris Uba which prayed the court to compel INEC to prosecute Ubah and Umenweke for their alleged disorderly conduct during the polls.

Giving the order on Wednesday in  suit No. FHC/AWK/CS/29/2019, Justice I.B. Gafai said: “The first respondent (INEC) shall, within 14 days from today (Thursday, March 27), conduct or cause investigation into the criminal allegations of the applicant,  prosecute, if the investigation result so warrants the third respondent and any other person(s) implicated in its investigation.

“And 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.”