A federal High court in Akwaibom, Uyo, has sentenced a university professor, Ignatius Uduak, to three years imprisonment for perjury, and publishing fake poll results during the 2019 general election.
This judgement came four years after the case was filed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), against Prof. Uduk, who was engaged by the commission as a Collation/Returning Officer for the Essien Udim State Constituency, on March 9th, 2019, for the governorship and house of assembly elections.
In addition to his jail terms, the court also ordered the University of Uyo (UNIUYO) professor, to pay a fine of N100,000 after he was found guilty of the three count charges leveled against him by INEC.
The presiding judge, justice Nkanang, during the hearing on Wednesday, ruled that the prosecution, led by Clement Onwuewunor, had successfully proven that Uduk knowingly published false election results while serving as a collation and returning officer.
Citing Section 123 (4) of the 2010 Electoral Act (as amended), which states that publishing false election results is punishable by up to 36 months in prison, the judge affirmed that the prosecution had made its case.
Regarding the third charge of perjury, the judge referenced Section 118 of the Criminal Code Law, CAP 38, Laws of Akwa Ibom State 2000, which defines perjury as knowingly giving false testimony in a judicial proceeding.
While the court acquitted Uduk of the first charge—announcing a false election result—it found him guilty on the other two counts: publishing false election results and perjury.
Following the evidence against him, Uduak was sentenced to three years in prison for each count, with both sentences running concurrently.
The lecturer was first arraigned in December 2020 after a warrant was issued for his arrest the previous month due to his repeated failure to appear in court for the start of his trial.
The professor pleaded not guilty to the three charges brought against him by Nigeria’s election commission.
However, the case faced multiple delays due to various reasons, including a change of defense lawyer and an incident where the defendant collapsed in the dock during cross-examination.
