Two university professors, Peter Ogban and Ignatius Uduk, who were convicted for manipulating the 2019 general election results in Akwa Ibom State, are currently free, despite having been sentenced to prison by competent courts of law.
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The two dons—of the University of Calabar and University of Uyo, respectively—served as Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) returning officers during the elections. Both were found guilty of falsifying results in favour of All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates and sentenced to three years in prison by Akwa Ibom State High Courts in separate trials.
Ogban, a professor of soil science, was convicted in March 2021 for announcing fake senatorial election results in Oruk Anam and Etim Ekpo LGAs. His actions fraudulently inflated votes by over 5,000 in favour of Godswill Akpabio, now Nigeria’s Senate President.
Though sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, Ogban was released from Ikot Ekpene Prison in July 2021 after spending only four months. His release followed an appeal on health grounds—including claims of high blood pressure and tuberculosis—put forward by his counsel, Kanu Agabi, a former Attorney-General of the Federation.
Despite the INEC’s objections to the bail application, Justice Pius Idiong granted Ogban a conditional release. However, on April 30, 2025, the Court of Appeal upheld the original conviction and the full three-year jail sentence, raising questions about the enforcement of judicial decisions.
Similarly, Professor Ignatius Uduk, a lecturer in Human Kinetics at the University of Uyo, was convicted of electoral fraud and result falsification in favour of Nse Ntuen, an APC lawmaker representing Essien Udim in the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
Despite his December 2020 arraignment, guilty verdict, and subsequent three-year sentence, Uduk has yet to serve time behind bars. The court granted him bail on condition of a ₦2 million bond, two sureties, and the submission of his international passport. He also pleaded for mercy, citing old age.
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Authored by Ben Ijeoma Adigwe Esq., ACIarb (UK), LL.M, Dip. in Artificial Intelligence, Director at the Delta State Ministry of Justice, Asaba, Nigeria.
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