A High Court sitting in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom state has found Prof. Peter Ogban guilty of manipulating election results and has sentenced him to serve a jail term for36 months. The Presiding Judge, Justice Augustine Odokwo, also ordered Ogban to pay the sum of N100,000 as a fine for the count 2 charge, which is a falsification of the result in Etim Ekpo/Oruk Anam collation centers he manipulated during the 2019 National Assembly election held February 24.
Ogban was the returning officers of the 2019 general election in the said constituency during the 2019 National Assembly election and was undergoing trial on allegations raised against him of manipulating /falsifying election results in the said local government of Akwa Ibom state.
The Presiding Judge sentenced Ogban after he pleaded guilty to the allegation and begged for leniency on the ground that he has dependants on him including his aged mother to look after.
The Professor added that he was a respected individual in his community, a lecturer of soil science at the University of Uyo and Calabar. In a usual manner blamed the devil for his woe.
Earlier, Counsel to the defendant, Mr. Anthony Ekpe, had prayed the court to pardon his client, as the offense for which Ogban was found guilty had no effect on the outcome of the said election.
He said that the Prof. was a great contributor to knowledge and shall not be deprived of his freedom.
Meanwhile, speaking to newsmen after the Judgement, the Defendant's lawyer vowed to appeal the case in a higher court.
However, counsel to INEC, Mr. Clement Onwenwunor, applauded the judge for his sound judgment, as it will serve as a deterrent to future election riggers.
