Nigerian Professor Jailed for Election Fraud Amidst String of Delays

A Nigerian professor, Mr. Uduk, has been sentenced to three years in prison for perjury and publishing false election results.

Uduk, a professor of Human Kinetics at the University of Uyo, was prosecuted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for his role in the 2019 general elections in Essien Udim State Constituency.

This conviction comes four years after another professor, Peter Ogban, was jailed for three years for a similar offense.

Ogban, a professor of Soil Science at the University of Calabar, was found guilty of falsifying election results to aid Godswill Akpabio, the current Senate President.

Uduk's trial was marred by delays, including a change of defense counsel and the defendant collapsing in the dock during cross-examination. The defendant also accused the judge of bias, leading to a temporary recusal.

In delivering the judgment, Justice Bassey Nkanang cited Section 123 (4) of the 2010 Electoral Act, which states that publishing false election results is punishable by up to 36 months in prison.

Uduk was convicted on two counts: publication of false election results and perjury, and sentenced to three years for each count, to run concurrently.