Akwa Ibom: Court grants bail to University Don convicted for electoral fraud

A High Court sitting in Uyo has granted bail to Prof. Ignatius Uduk, a university lecturer convicted of electoral fraud, pending the outcome of his appeal.

The decision was made on Thursday by Justice Okon Okon, who cited the applicant’s critical health condition as a key factor in granting the bail.

Prof. Uduk, who was sentenced to three years in prison for his role in electoral fraud during the 2019 general elections, was granted bail in the sum of 2 million Naira.

The court also required two sureties, who must be residents within the jurisdiction of the court.

Additionally, Prof. Uduk was ordered to surrender his international passport to the court and is prohibited from traveling out of the country during the bail period.

The case, with charge number HU/240c/2020, was brought before the court by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against Prof. Uduk, who served as the Collation/Returning Officer for the Essien Udim State Constituency seat during the 2019 elections.

INEC was represented in court by Mr. Daniel Nwike, while Prof. Uduk’s defense team included Chief Kalu Umeh (SAN), Sen. Ita Enang (OFR), Dr. Joe Udoinyang, and George Ezegwu.

Speaking to journalists after the ruling, Sen. Ita Enang expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision.

He stated that the defense team would expedite the process to meet the bail conditions to ensure Prof. Uduk’s release so he can receive necessary medical treatment while awaiting the appeal.

“The Honourable Court has granted bail pending appeal to the applicant, Prof. Ignatius Uduk, in the sum of N2 million with two sureties in like sum, who must be residents within the jurisdiction of the court,” Enang said.

“The applicant will also deposit his international passport and is not to travel out of the jurisdiction during the bail period.”

Enang further revealed that the defense team is taking urgent steps to perfect the bail conditions and is working diligently to ensure the appeal is promptly heard at the Court of Appeal.

“The records have been completely compiled and are being transmitted to the Court of Appeal for the expeditious prosecution of the appeal,” he added.

Prof. Uduk’s conviction stemmed from his involvement in electoral fraud during the 2019 general elections, where he was accused of manipulating results in the Essien Udim State Constituency.

The defense team expressed gratitude to the court.

Diaspora Digital Media had reported in January that Uduk had bagged a three-year sentence

Background of the Case:
Professor Uduk was prosecuted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for his role as the returning officer during the 2019 elections in the Essien Udim State Constituency.

He was accused of announcing and publishing false results, thereby undermining the integrity of the electoral process.

His trial began in December 2020, following an arrest warrant issued after he repeatedly failed to appear in court.

The case is reminiscent of a similar incident involving Professor Peter Ogban, a Soil Science lecturer at the University of Calabar, who was also jailed for three years in 2021 for falsifying election results during the 2019 Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District election.

Professor Ogban, who has since served his sentence, was convicted for manipulating results in favor of Godswill Akpabio, the current Senate President, who was then the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate.

Akpabio, however, has consistently denied any involvement in the fraud.

The Trial
Professor Uduk’s trial was marred by numerous delays, including repeated absence from court which led to the issuance of an arrest warrant, a change of defense counsel midway through the trial, an incident where the defendant collapsed in the dock during cross-examination by the prosecution, and allegations of judicial bias by the defendant, which prompted the judge to recuse himself temporarily.

The case was later reassigned to the same judge by the state’s chief judge.

The judgment, initially scheduled for January 29, 2025, was postponed to February 5 after the defendant and his lawyer failed to appear in court, citing health reasons.

In response, the presiding judge, Justice Bassey Nkanang, revoked Uduk’s bail and issued a fresh arrest warrant.

The Judgement:
On the day of the verdict, Professor Uduk was brought into the courtroom in a wheelchair, dressed in a brown cassock.

After hearing arguments from both the prosecution and defense, Justice Nkanang delivered his ruling.

The judge acquitted Uduk on the first charge of announcing false election results but convicted him on the second and third charges: publishing false election results and perjury.

He sentenced the professor to three years in prison for each of the two charges, with the terms to run concurrently.

In his ruling, Justice Nkanang stated that the prosecution, led by Clement Onwuewunor, had successfully proven beyond reasonable doubt that Uduk had published false results while serving as a collation and returning officer during the election.

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