The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned an Administrative Secretary of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Gombe State, Tarkumbur Gregory, and two retired workers, Yunusa Ali Biri and Bunu Mulima, for an alleged N138 million scam.
The accused persons are being tried for the alleged receipt of gratification, to the tune of N138 million, to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential election.
A statement by EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said the offence was committed between March and May 2015, in contravention of Section 9 (1) (2) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The statement reads: “The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges against them. In view of their plea, the prosecution counsel Abubakar Aliyu urged the court to fix a date for trial.
“While adjourning the case to November 1 and 2, Justice Abubakar Jauro admitted the accused persons to bail on the terms of the administrative bail earlier granted them by the commission.”
INEC announced some disciplinary measures, following an expanded meeting of its Appointment, Promotion and Disciplinary Committee on the EFCC Interim Report on Bribery Corruption and Money Laundering Charges during the 2015 General Elections.
It said of the N23 billion poll bribery cash, about N3,046,829 was traced to some of its workers involved in the 2015 elections.
The commission also referred a National Commissioner and five Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), who were implicated in the scandal, to the presidency for disciplinary action.
It added that 205 workers were suspended pending the final determination of cases their cases with the EFCC.
But following insufficient information, 70 workers have been referred back to the EFCC for further investigation. An additional 80 serving officials of the commission, who were not named in the EFCC report, but whose names came up in the course of the investigation, were also queried and interviewed.