A High Court in Akwa Ibom has sentenced Professor Ignatius Uduk to three years in prison for publishing false election results and perjury.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) brought the charges against Uduk for his actions in the 2019 Akwa Ibom North-west State House of Assembly election.
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 following an arrest warrant 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 defense and an incident where the professor collapsed during cross-examination.
The case was initiated by the then INEC resident electoral commissioner Mike Igini.
The court’s ruling marks a significant development in INEC’s ongoing efforts to combat electoral malpractice and uphold the integrity of the electoral process.
Chioma Kalu
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