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The judge sitting over the case of arson and murder brought
against the Akwa Ibom Action Congree of Nigeria (ACN) gubernatorial candidate,
John Akpanudoedehe, Edet Obot said Tuesday he will rule on the case on
Wednesday. He said the poor lighting system in the court made it difficult for
him to give the ruling in the case.

Mr. Obot had waited for the arraignment of Mr. Akpanudoedehe
for hours after he was supposed to be brought in for trial. The magistrate had
arrived at the court premises early in the morning but information remained
hazy on whether the case would still be heard, as the court does not sit after
midday. Lawyers, ACN supporters and the crowd of people that had thronged the
court were seen leaving the court premises after waiting for some time.

Sources had informed NEXT that Mr. Akpanudoedehe and his
lawyers were still at the police headquarters, located at Ikot Akpannabia, and
that the delay was a strategy meant to check Mr. Akpanudoedehe’s supporters and
forestall any uprising. Security personnel were seen patrolling Uyo since the
morning hours while people entering the court premises were subjected to
extensive security checks.

Intimidation and arrest

Lead counsel Adeniyi Akintola and 28 others who stood in for
Mr. Akpanudoedehe criticised the intimidation, arrest and detention of their
client by the police and the state government saying he was supposed to be
provided with security as a governorship candidate. He condemned the fact that
the state criminal law was amended on March 31, 2011 when the offence for which
his client is being accused happened on March 22, 2011, adding that that was
not only a violation of the law but an intent to implicate Mr. Akpanudoedehe
unconstitutionally. He said the court had no jurisdiction to handle the charges
of murder and arson according to subsection 1, paragraphs a-d of the Akwa Ibom
State Criminal Law cap. 315.

“A law to amend criminal proceeding was sent to the state House
of Assembly on March 31, 2011 and made to deliberate on and passed. They never
investigated the alibi of my client. He was at Ikot Ekpene that day
campaigning, he was not around.” Prosecuting counsel, Raphael Nkem, however
deferred, saying the provisions as contained in the state law was appropriate
for the determination of the offence.

Mr. Akpanudoedehe was granted bail by the Federal High Court in
Abuja on March 31. Shortly after he met his bail conditions, the police
rearrested him on the court premises, without giving reason for their action.

Mr. Akpanudoedehe has, meanwhile, been in the custody of the
state CID.