BREAKING: Court takes final decision on professor who rigged election for Akpabio, see details

• The Court of Appeal successful Calabar upheld the condemnation of Professor Peter Ogban for rigging the 2019 senatorial predetermination successful favour of Godswill Akpabio
• Ogban, a assemblage lecturer, manipulated results successful 2 section authorities areas, adding fake votes to Akpabio’s tally, starring to his three-year jailhouse term
• The Court expressed dismay astatine Ogban’s relation arsenic a prof successful the fraud, reinforcing the combat against electoral malpractice successful Nigeria

Uyo, Akwa Ibom authorities - The Court of Appeal successful Calabar has upheld the condemnation of Professor Peter Ogban, who was jailed for rigging a senatorial predetermination successful favour of Godswill Akpabio, the existent president of the Nigerian Senate.

The ruling was made connected Wednesday, April, reaffirming the archetypal condemnation from a State High Court successful Uyo successful 2021.

Court Takes Action Over Jailed Professor Who Rigged Election for Akpabio
Source: Facebook

Ogban’s condemnation upheld

Professor Ogban, a ungraded subject lecturer astatine the University of Calabar and the returning serviceman for the 2019 wide elections successful the Akwa Ibom North-West District, was sentenced to 3 years successful prison.

The charges against him stemmed from his engagement successful manipulating predetermination results successful favour of Mr Akpabio, who was seeking re-election to the Senate aft losing successful the 2019 election.

The fraudulent predetermination manipulation took spot successful 2 section authorities areas—Oruk Anam and Etim Ekpo—where Ogban was recovered blameworthy of adding fake votes to Mr Akpabio’s tally.

The tribunal heard however astir 5,000 fictitious votes were added successful Oruk Anam to boost the APC candidate's numbers.

"The Court of Appeal has upheld the condemnation and three-year jailhouse word for Mr Ogban, expressing displeasure astatine his relation arsenic a prof successful this fraudulent act," said a lawyer progressive successful the case.

The interaction of the conviction

The appellate court’s determination was viewed arsenic a beardown connection against electoral fraud, peculiarly fixed Ogban’s presumption arsenic a assemblage lecturer.

The tribunal expressed dissatisfaction with his actions, considering the important work and spot placed successful him arsenic a returning serviceman during the election.

"The prosecution proved beyond immoderate tenable uncertainty that Professor Ogban manipulated predetermination results to favour the APC, and the tribunal has upheld the condemnation accordingly," said Justice Augustine Odokwo, who oversaw the proceedings successful Uyo.

Mr Ogban had earlier pleaded for mercy, but Justice Odokwo told him determination was small that could beryllium done different than let the instrumentality to instrumentality its course.

The court’s ruling underscores the value of maintaining electoral integrity.

Background of the predetermination fraud

The lawsuit dates backmost to the 2019 wide elections erstwhile Mr Akpabio, aft defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), sought to reclaim his Senate seat.

He mislaid the predetermination to PDP’s Chris Ekpenyong, a erstwhile lawman politician of Akwa Ibom State, amid reports of unit and irregularities.

Ogban admitted during the proceedings that helium falsified the results to favour Mr Akpabio, starring to the complaint of predetermination fraud.

INEC, the electoral body, pursued the case, which has since go 1 of the landmark cases connected electoral malpractice successful the country.

Other Notable Election Fraud Cases

Court Takes Action Over Jailed Professor Who Rigged Election for Akpabio
Source: Facebook

Professor Ogban’s lawsuit is not isolated. Another academic, Professor Ignatius Uduk, was besides convicted for akin election-related offences.

Uduk, a prof of Human Kinetics astatine the University of Uyo, was sentenced to 3 years successful situation for rigging the 2019 Essien Udim State Constituency predetermination to favour the APC candidate, Nse Ntuen, who was a adjacent state of Mr Akpabio.

"It is captious that we guarantee electoral integrity. The strategy indispensable stay escaped of manipulation, and these convictions are portion of our ongoing combat against fraud," said an INEC authoritative acquainted with the cases.

Although Uduk was granted bail by a State High Court successful Uyo, his condemnation has reinforced the determination of authorities to code electoral malpractice wrong Nigeria’s world and governmental spheres.

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Source: Legit.ng