In a landmark ruling aimed at upholding electoral integrity, the High Court in Akwa Ibom State has sentenced Professor Ignatius Uduk of the University of Uyo, (UNIUYO) to three years in prison for electoral malpractice during the 2019 general elections.
The verdict, delivered by Justice Bassey Nkanang of the Uyo High Court, found Uduk guilty on two out of three charges brought against him by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
While he was acquitted on Count 1, the court convicted him on Counts 2 and 3, imposing a three-year sentence for each count to be served concurrently.
Uduk, who served as the collation and returning officer during the election, was acquitted of announcing false results but convicted of publishing fraudulent results and committing perjury.
The legal battle began in December 2020 when Uduk was first arraigned after an arrest warrant was issued for his failure to appear in court.
Despite pleading not guilty to the charges, the trial faced numerous delays, including changes in his legal defence and an incident where the professor collapsed during cross-examination.
Uduk’s conviction marks the second high-profile case involving UNIUYO academics and electoral offences.
In an earlier trial, Professor Peter Ogban was also found guilty and sentenced to three years in prison for similar offences related to the same election.
This case underscores INEC’s commitment to prosecuting election offenders and serves as a warning against electoral malpractice in Nigeria’s democratic process.
