₦airaland Forum

A Nigerian professor jailed on Wednesday for falsifying election results recounted his ordeal to a judge since his trial began in 2020.

Ignatius Uduk, a professor of Human Kinetics at the University of Uyo, was prosecuted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on three charges: announcement of false election results, publication of false results and perjury during the 2019 general elections in Essien Udim State Constituency where he served the returning officer.

The judge, Bassey Nkanang, acquitted the professor for announcing false results but convicted him of publishing false results and perjury.

“This is my first offence. I am appealing to the court to give me a soft landing either by fine or state pardon,” the professor, who was brought to the court in a wheelchair, told the judge.

“At 70, I am going to prison. I was a professor in 2005, but the university forcefully retired me in 2020 because of this case,” the professor said, begging the court to pardon him.

Sentencing
The professor was INEC’s collation and returning officer for Essien Udim State Constituency in the 2019 general elections, where he falsified election results to the advantage of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Nse Ntuen, then a political ally of Godswill Akpabio, who is now the Senate president.

Mr Uduk had called Mike Igini, then INEC resident electoral commissioner (REC), to inform him that there was violence at the collation centre and that he had been chased out of the centre.

However, 24 hours later, Mr Uduk published the election results and testified before the Election Petition Tribunal, prompting INEC to file criminal charges against him.

After listening to Mr Uduk’s leniency plea, Mr Nkanang held that the prosecution counsel, Clement Onwuewunor, discharged the burden of proof that the defendant published false election results when he served as a collation/returning officer.

Citing Section 123 (4) of the 2010 Electoral Act as amended, which states that “Any person who announces or publishes an election result knowing same to be false or which is at variance with the signed certificate of return commits an offence and is liable on conviction to 36 months imprisonment,” the judge held that the prosecution had established his case against the defendant.

In the third charge of perjury, an offence punishable with 14 years imprisonment, the judge cited Section 118 of the Criminal Code Law, CAP 38, Laws of Akwa Ibom State 2000, where the offence is defined as: “Any person in any judicial proceeding or for the purpose of instituting any judicial proceeding, knowingly gives false testimony touching any matter which is material to any question then depending on that proceeding, or intended to be raised in that proceeding, is guilty of an offence which is called perjury.”

Harkening to the professor’s leniency plea, the judge reduced the prison terms to three years each for both charges and ruled that they will run concurrently beginning Wednesday, 5 February, when the judgement is given.

Addressing reporters outside the court, the prosecution and defence counsels expressed satisfaction with the judgement.

When asked if he would appeal the verdict, the defence counsel, George Ezeugwu, said he has to study the judgement before taking the next step.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/south-south-regional/772128-nigerian-professor-jailed-for-election-fraud-appeals-for-state-pardon.html

Previous Thread:
https://www.nairaland.com/7391180/professor-ignatius-uduk-collapses-court#117697607

Nonsense professor. Check my signature below. It is very important.

Yay ! FTC

Japa is possible…..Ask me how !

Hmmm. What about those that falsified results to rig Tinubu into power, they shouldn't go Scott free.

Good one from the court. Same professor will expel you if you were caught cheating in an exam

What of Mahmoud

After 6 years
Consequence of his action has caught up with him

There are times I wonder if these election rigger professors are really educated, how can you, a whole professor come so low to rig election for an illiterate. It's really worrisome.
What of the person he rigged election? That one is enjoying life now.
The love of money has eventually caught up with him.

Nawa oooo

Nawa o..

Meanwhile INEC is yet to put its present corrupt head on trial for the 2023 grand electoral heist.

chokekachy:
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/south-south-regional/772128-nigerian-professor-jailed-for-election-fraud-appeals-for-state-pardon.html

Previous Thread:
https://www.nairaland.com/7391180/professor-ignatius-uduk-collapses-court#117697607

Must be cussing Mr Akpabio wherever he is in jail.

Ftc

Good one

Our laws work, when they want to work. That, in itself, is a big problem.

Akpabio's LGA

chokekachy:
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/south-south-regional/772128-nigerian-professor-jailed-for-election-fraud-appeals-for-state-pardon.html

Previous Thread:
https://www.nairaland.com/7391180/professor-ignatius-uduk-collapses-court#117697607

Those who rigged Edo governorship election on September 21 should get ready as the same fate awaits them after the mandate has been returned to the rightful winner.

Serve him right.. very useless citizen for diverting the vote of the masses..👌

chokekachy:
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/south-south-regional/772128-nigerian-professor-jailed-for-election-fraud-appeals-for-state-pardon.html

Previous Thread:
https://www.nairaland.com/7391180/professor-ignatius-uduk-collapses-court#117697607

O-level certificate holders are more dignify than professors these days.

What we have now are criminals and very irritating. I've been privileged to work within a university corridor and I can state that professors are now very corrupt.

Retribution catch up with this one.

Maybe he's one of those Professors that use to play with students big breasts in the office.

chokekachy:
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/south-south-regional/772128-nigerian-professor-jailed-for-election-fraud-appeals-for-state-pardon.html

Previous Thread:
https://www.nairaland.com/7391180/professor-ignatius-uduk-collapses-court#117697607

A whole professor reducing himself to a political pawn just to rig elections—what a disgrace. What’s the point of all those years of education if you throw integrity out the window? Now, at 70, he’s begging for pardon, but where was his conscience when he was falsifying results? This is how he ends up tarnishing his reputation and losing everything. No integrity, no respect, just shame.

Blocking money and unnecessary handout money no reach am chop he go put him hand for shark mouth now shark have bite and chop him hand 😂😂😂😂. Congrats to him he go turn emeritus pro for prison with all the greed .

Many people will go to jail in this Edo election.

I remember that prof. He was looking for touch light. Every Nigerians have elements of corruption in them. If our academicians can go so low, who else. Should we entrust the illiterate?

That one for port harcourt wey rig for apc rim rukeh I met him at fubpre. Warri he's their v.c i get the idiot number self

Useless criminals

Professor wey corrupt. All this kind professor go dey won chop students before grades

Strange!

Something went wrong somewhere.

Akalia:
Hmmm. What about those that falsified results to rig Tinubu into power, they shouldn't go Scott free.

Those that falsified election result to rig Obi to power against Ngige have yet to be prosecuted till today