UYO, The Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo has ordered the Chairman of Eket Local Government Council, Mr. Akaninyene Tommey Ikott, to immediately present himself to the Nigeria Police for investigation over allegations of forgery currently under review by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone 6, Calabar.
The order was handed down on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, by Hon. Justice Edem Akpan while delivering judgment in a Fundamental Human Rights enforcement suit filed by Mr. Ikott against Hon. Abasuta Bassey Udoekaeso and the Nigeria Police.
In a ruling that drew keen attention from legal and political observers, the court held that the claimant could not invoke the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Procedure to shield himself from a lawful criminal investigation. Justice Akpan ruled that the appropriate course of action was for Mr. Ikott submitted himself to the police and responded to the allegations levelled against him.
The judgment, a Certified True Copy of which is available to this reporter, effectively cleared the way for the Nigeria Police to continue investigations into allegations bordering on the authenticity of academic credentials allegedly presented by the council chairman during the 2020 local government election conducted by the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC).
The allegations are linked to the 2020 Eket Local Government Council election, in which Hon. Abasuta Bassey Udoekaeso emerged as the Chairmanship candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA). During the nomination process for that election, Mr. Ikott reportedly submitted a Bachelor of Science degree certificate in Social Works, said to have been obtained from the University of Calabar.
Questions later arose regarding the authenticity of the certificate, prompting petitions to law enforcement authorities and leading to the current investigation now domiciled at the office of the AIG, Zone 6, Calabar.
Sources familiar with the case disclosed that prior to the delivery of the judgment, Mr. Ikott, popularly known as “Alaba,” allegedly travelled out of the country under circumstances that remain unclear. This development has further intensified public interest, especially given the court’s explicit directive that he submits himself to the police without delay.
Political analysts in Eket and across Akwa Ibom State have described the ruling as a watershed moment for accountability and electoral integrity, noting that it reinforces the principle that holders of public office are not immune from criminal investigation.
As of the time of filing this report, the Eket Local Government Council and the media office of the council chairman had not issued any official reaction to the judgment.
The Nigeria Police have also not made a public statement on the next procedural steps, particularly in view of reports suggesting that Mr. Ikott may currently be outside Nigeria.
The ruling is expected to have far-reaching legal and political implications as stakeholders await compliance with the court order and the eventual outcome of the police investigation.
