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The High Court in Akwa Ibom State has sentenced Professor Ignatius Uduk of the University of Uyo (UNIUYO) to three years in prison for his involvement in electoral malpractice during the 2019 general elections.
Professor Uduk, a specialist in Human Kinetics, served as the Collation and Returning Officer for Essien Udim State Constituency during the March 2019 polls.
He faced a three-count charge, including the publication of false election results, the announcement of fake scores, and perjury.
Justice Bassey Nkanang, who presided over the case, acquitted Uduk of the first charge but found him guilty of the remaining two.
Consequently, the court sentenced him to three years imprisonment on each count, with both sentences to run concurrently.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), led by former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Mike Igini in Akwa Ibom State, initiated legal proceedings against Uduk after amending the charges to include dereliction of duty, dissemination of falsified election results, and giving false testimony under oath.
Uduk’s trial experienced several delays, primarily due to adjournments sought by his defence team, which eventually led to a change in the presiding judge.
His conviction follows the earlier sentencing of another UNIUYO academic, Professor Peter Ogban, who received a similar three-year prison term for comparable electoral offences.
This verdict brings to a close a protracted five-year legal battle by INEC aimed at addressing electoral fraud linked to the 2019 elections in Akwa Ibom State.