A High Court in Akwa Ibom State has sentenced Professor Ignatius Uduk of the University of Uyo (UNIUYO) to three years in prison for his role in electoral malpractice during the 2019 general elections.
Professor Uduk, who was a Collation/Returning Officer for the Essien Udim State Constituency election in March 2019, was convicted on charges of publishing false election results and perjury.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), under former Resident Electoral Commissioner Mike Igini, had prosecuted Uduk on a three-count charge, which included announcing false results, publishing fake election results, and lying under oath.
While the court acquitted him of the first charge, he was found guilty on the remaining two counts and sentenced to three years imprisonment on each. The sentences will run concurrently.
The case had faced multiple adjournments due to delays from the defense, leading to a change in the presiding judge before Justice Bassey Nkanang delivered the final judgment.
Professor Uduk’s conviction follows a similar case involving another UNIUYO professor, Peter Ogban, who was also found guilty of electoral fraud and sentenced to three years in prison.
