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Tag: INEC officials

  • 12 security tips during elections on Saturday

    Many Nigerians are skeptical of their safety at the polling units in 29 states in tomorrow’s Gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections.

    This is due to the many security infractions recorded in the just-concluded Presidential and National Assembly polls.

    The development accounted for the low voter’s turnout at the last exercise.

    For those who are concerned about safety, here are some security tips during the exercise tomorrow:

    * Ensure you go to the polling unit with the authentic PVC to avoid any form of harassment from INEC officials, security personnel and electorates.

    * Do not put on political campaign uniforms to the polling unit to avoid being targeted by opposition parties.

    *Arrive the polling unit early to cast your votes.

    * Do not disclose who you will vote for at the centres.

    * Do not argue about politics or condemn any candidate at the polling unit.

    * Kindly submit your phone(s) to the Presiding Officer before entering the cubicle.

    * Ensure no one sees your choice of candidate as you thumb print inside the cubicle.

    * Gently conduct yourself in an orderly manner before and after casting your vote.

    * Stay some distance away from the polling unit in case you intend to wait till the announcement of results.

    * Immediately report any suspicious movement or strange faces at the polling unit to the security personnel.

    * Do not engage in any form of electoral offences such as ballot stuffing or snatching that may endanger your life.

    * Leave the polling unit immediately if you feel unsafe or notice an imminent violence

  • INEC officials colluding with Gov Emmanuel, Akpabio alleges

    Former Akwa Ibom Governor Senator Godswill Akpabio has alleged some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were colluding with Governor Udom Emmanuel to compromise the forthcoming elections.

    He accused some of the INEC officials of being not completely independent, alleging they have been compromised by Governor Emmanuel.

    Akpabio told newsmen in Abuja the governor has deployed huge sums to entice voters and electoral officials.

    The former governor alleged Emmanuel has no single project to show and has consistently told the people that there is no money in the state, even after collecting refunds spent to construct federal roads by his government.

    He, however, expressed confidence President Muhammadu Buhari will emerge victorious in Saturday’s rescheduled presidential elections.

    The former Senate Minority Leader said: “You know that INEC is an Independent body but some of its officials are not totally Independent.

    “In some states, we have noticed some unholy alliances with the government in power in those states.

    “For example, in a place like Akwa Ibom, we have seen the body language of the government, which clearly shows that they will not be able to conduct free and fair elections, giving all the parties, particularly the APC, a level playing field.

    “This is very easy for you to see and from the body language of people they have recruited to run the affairs, including the ad hoc staff and other support staff for the election.

    “This can be seen from the body language and the kind of things that the trainees are being told. What the National Chairman observes about opposition against APC does exist.”

    He went on: “There are two things happening in my state. One is a lot of fake news coming from the opposition and secondly, is massive deployment of funds to buy people.

    “James Hardley Chase said in one of his books that fear is the key that opens the wallet of the rich.

    “He told the people that there was no money to do project and so, there is nothing on the ground in the state.

    “They have not been able to commission a single project. All the big me that come to my state, they take the churches to pray.

    “When former President Obasanjo came, they took him to church to pray but when they go to other states, they commission projects but nothing to commission in my state.

    “So, now that people are clamouring for change, money is now flowing all over the state. Fear opens the wallet of the rich that is what is happening to the opposition in my state.

    “You can only rig election in a place where you are popular. Today, the APC is all over Akwa Ibom state.

    “80-90 percent of the people are APC. So, when you go to rig election and you don’t succeed, you bring anarchy.”

    On the chances of Buhari, he said: “Nigerians know the difference between apples and oranges. The reality is that this President has done very well considering the fact he took us out of recession.

    “He met many projects on ground and is completing them such as the railway lines. He has invested in massive infrastructure never seen before.

    “I have been a governor and I know that federal budget usually contain 70 and sometimes 80 percent of recurrent expenditure and sometimes, what is left is less than 20 percent for capital projects.

    “But this President has been able to block the loopholes in the system and free more money for developmental purposes.

    “The TSA is a major innovation and as you know, some ministries were operating more than 50 accounts.

    “Today, we have been able to mobilise those funds into one account and over 30 percent of the budget now goes for capital projects. Nigerians are clamouring for infrastructural change and better educational facilities.”

  • IG: Police Mobile Force ready to protect INEC officials, others

    ACTING Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu said yesterday that the Police Mobile Force (PMF) units are ready to protect Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials,  local and international observers and other sensitive materials.

    Adamu also said they would be deployed to strategic locations across the country to enable them respond quickly to any security threat.

    He assured Nigerians and the international community that the PMF officers that would be deployed on election security operations have been adequately exposed to tailor-made professional trainings towards ensuring that they undertake their duties in the most civil manner.

    Adamu spoke in Abuja during a meeting with the Squadron Commanders of the 68 PMF squadrons across the country.

    Giving details of the roles to be carried out by the commanders and each unit during the election, the IG said: “The mandate of the Police Mobile Force as prescribed in Section 25 of the Police Act Cap 359, Laws of the Federation 1990 is to act as a strike force that can rapidly be deployed as a cohesive specialised police component to complement the conventional police detachments in performing critical internal security assignments. They could also be deployed to support the military in national security operations. It is within this context that the PMF are currently actively involved in the counter-terrorism campaign in the Northeast and other special operations along with the military in other parts of the country.

    “In line with its mandate and in relation to the election security plans, the PMF will be deployed to provide robust protection for local and international election observers, INEC officials and sensitive electoral materials as well as critical national infrastructures.

    “They shall also be engaged in supporting the other arms of the force in undertaking intelligence-led operations in areas identified as high-risk in the threat analysis report.

    He added: “The police mobile units shall be located at strategic places across the country to respond swiftly to any security threat, while also undertaking street patrols to deter criminal acts in the course of the elections. Details of these deployments shall form part of our discussion during this conference.”

    Adamu called on politicians and the electorate to place national security interest above their personal interests and be guided by the overriding obligation to situate all their actions within extant rules.

    “The police under my watch are firmly committed to ensuring a robust election security management that will guarantee a conducive environment for citizens to freely exercise their electoral franchise. Nonetheless, we are fully prepared to deploy our uniquely potent assets to deal decisively with any individual or group that may attempt to threaten our internal security interests before, during or after the general elections.”

  • Three arrested for impersonating INEC officials

    Three persons have been arrested by the police for impersonating officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Kaiyewu Folahan, Akintunde Ibukun and Azeez Kazeem were arrested in Somolu, Lagos.

    Their arrest, according to police spokesman Chike Oti, a Chief Superintendent (CSP), followed a complaint from the Deputy Director of INEC in Somolu Local Government, Mrs. S.O. Akinwunmi, on Tuesday.

    Mrs. Akinwunmi, Oti said, informed the police that some persons at Shop no. 33, Aluta Plaza, Federal College of Education, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos were impersonating INEC workers and recruiting ad-hoc staff.

    Read also: Only deployed card readers will read PVCs – INEC

    Oti said Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal directed the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Pedro Police Station to infiltrate the camp of the culprits with his undercover operatives.

    “The operatives did as directed, leading to the arrest of the suspects. Exhibits recovered from them included a laptop, 511 INEC Lagos ad-hoc recruitment forms already filled, with passport photographs attached,” he said.

    The suspects, he said, were arraigned yesterday at the Chief Magistrates’ Court 2, Yaba, for conspiracy, impersonation, forgery, fraudulent act and unlawful possession of INEC materials.

    They were remanded in prison custody pending when they would meet their bail conditions.

    The case was adjourned till April 16.

  • N23b bribe: EFCC clears 15 INEC officials

    FIFTEEN of the  205 Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials suspended in connection with the alleged N23billion poll bribe have been cleared.

    About N3,046,829, 000 was traced to some of INEC officials involved in the 2015 general elections.

    INEC suspended 205 pending the final determination of their cases with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    But following insufficient information, 70 other officials were  referred back to EFCC for investigation.

    The 15 who did not benefit from the bribe were given a clean bill of health.

    EFCC has written the Chairman of the electoral commission, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu on the clean bill of health given to the 15.

    “We can only use them as prosecution witnesses because there is no case against them. They tried to avoid the dirty deals, an INEC source said.

    EFCC did not release their names because, according to the source, it is the responsibility of INEC to do so. “What we have succeeded in doing is to prove that our probe of the bribery scam was not a witch-hunt  at all,” he added.

    Over 100 INEC officials are facing prosecution for benefiting from the bribe.”

    INEC had raised an expanded Appointment, Promotion and Disciplinary Committee on the EFCC Interim Report on Bribery Corruption and Money Laundering Charges during the 2015 General Elections.

    A National Commissioner, Mallam Mohammed Haruna, who released a statement  on behalf of INEC on the scandal, said:  “Among other things, the Committee found that:

    “There was a clear attempt to bribe INEC staff to influence the outcome of the 2015 general elections, using an NGO, the West African Network of Election Observers (WANEO), made up mainly of retired senior INEC officials.

    “Out of over N23 billion, which the EFCC report said was used to influence the elections, the Committee established that N3,046,829,000 was received by INEC staff in 16 states.

    “In reaching its decision on the findings of the Committee, the Commission adhered strictly to the INEC Staff Conditions of Service. The Commission therefore decided as follows:

    • The cases of one former National Commissioner, five former Resident Electoral Commissioners (one of them deceased) have been referred to the Presidency and EFCC for further necessary action.
    • Based on their level of involvement, 205 serving INEC staff will be immediately placed on Interdiction, which entails suspension from duties and being placed on half salary, pending the final determination of the cases they have with the EFCC.
    • Seventy staff about whom there was insufficient information regarding their involvement will be referred back to EFCC for further investigation and possible prosecution.

    “The Commission hereby reiterates its commitment to defending the integrity of the electoral process. Therefore, it will continue to take stern action against its officials who compromise its core values of integrity, transparency and impartiality in the conduct of elections.”

  • EFCC arraigns PDP chief, INEC officials for alleged N179.8m fraud

    THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arraigned Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Deputy National Chairman (South) Yemi Akinwonmi at the Federal High Court in Lagos for alleged N179.8 million fraud.

    He was arraigned along with two Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, Dickson Atiba and Ogunmodede Oladayo.

    They were accused of conspiring to take possession of the money in March 2015 ahead of the general elections.

    EFCC arraigned them before Justice Muslim Hassan, who ordered that they be remanded in Ikoyi Prison pending hearing of their bail application.

    The prosecution said they received the money from Adeyinka Ayo-Aina, when they “reasonably ought to have known that the money formed part of proceeds of fraud”.

    According to the commission, they handled the cash without going through a financial institution, thereby violating the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011.

    The prosecution said Akinwonmi, a former INEC staff, and Atiba, on or about April 7, 2015, made and accepted a cash payment of N69 million.

    It added that the sum “exceeded the amount authorised by law without going through a financial institution”.

    EFCC said the alleged offence is contrary to Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, as amended and punishable under Section 16(2).

    Akinwonmi, Atiba and Oladayo pleaded not guilty to the eight-count charge filed by prosecuting counsel Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo.

    Justice Hassan adjourned until August 6 for hearing of their bail applications.

  • Ekiti 2018: INEC is ready to conduct credible election – REC

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner of Ekiti State Prof. Abdul Ganiy Olayinka Raji has said that all the sensitive materials for the Saturday election has been delivered to all the 16 local government areas in the state.

    Raji disclosed this Thursday  while speaking with journalist in his office noting that the materials were collected at the Central Bank in the presence of all the political parties before they were dispatched to various destination accompanied by eight senior INEC officials.

    Read Also:Fayose ‘antics assault on Ekiti integrity’

    According to him, the materials were monitored directly in his office through official vehicle tracker connected to a giant television screen which indicates the movement of the materials until all got to the respective 16 local government headquarters of the state.

    The commissioner disclosed that Ekiti state has 913,334 voters out of which 646, 000 collected their PV cards while about 250,000 are yet to collect their cards.

    He explained that all the process used by the commission was transparent with the involvement of representatives of all the parties participating in the election.

    “We have 35 political parties participating in this coming, gubernatorial election, though 40 political parties initially notified us of their participation, but at the last minutes only 35 parties are participating.

    He explained that the commission did not face any challenges because the fear of how the sensitive materials will get to the final destination was addressed through improved technology that gave the commission to monitor, track and even listen to all the communication going on in all the vehicles deplored.

    He explained that Ekiti is calm and all hands are on deck to conduct credible, fair and free election in the state.

  • Poll bribery: Court rules on INEC officials’ application May 12

    Justice John Tsoho of Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday fixed May 12 for ruling in an application filed by 23 officials of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the suit against them.

    Justice Tsoho adjourned the matter after listening to arguments from the prosecution and defence counsel.

    The officials were docked for allegedly receiving N360million from Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike,  during the December 10, 2016 rerun  election in the state.

    The accused were to enter their plea on March 14 to a seven-count charge of bribery.

    Counsel to the 1st to 20th defendants, Mr. Ahmed Raji, had in the last sitting, informed the court of the application he filed, questioning the territorial jurisdiction of the court in the matter.

    The other defence counsel, Mr. Ukpan Ukairo and Mr. E. A. Nwauwa, also filed an application challenging the court’s jurisdiction.

    At the resumed hearing, Raji observed that the exhibits of the complainant attached to the counter affidavit of the police, were deposed to by one Numa Ganawo Wande, a litigation officer in the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).

    He said the exhibits, marked annexures A, B, C and D, were mere photographs of dead police officers and weapons.

    Raji argued that in accordance with the provisions of Section 84 of the Evidence Act, the exhibits were “inadmissible in law.”

    He insisted that a litigation officer in the AGF’s office “is not in a better position to depose to what transpired in Port-Harcourt.”

     

    NAN

  • EFCC arraigns Alison-Madueke, INEC officials

    EFCC arraigns Alison-Madueke, INEC officials

    •Suspect pleads guilty to receiving N30m

    The Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) yesterday arraigned three Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials for allegedly receiving bribes from former Petroleum Minister Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke to compromise results of the 2015 general election.

    Christian Nwosu, Yisa Adedoyin and Tijani Bashir were arraigned before Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    They allegedly collected N264.88 million on March 27, 2015 from the minister ahead of the election.

    Nwosu pleaded guilty to the charge and was convicted for receiving N30 million bribe.

    Mrs. Alison-Madueke was named in the charge.

    Prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo said Nwosu opted for a plea bargain.

    The EFCC lawyer said Nwosu refunded N5 million and surrendered the  title document of a landed property he bought for N25 million in Delta State.

    According to him, EFCC acted on an intelligence report that Mrs. Alison-Madueke stashed $115 million in a bank, with an oral instruction that the money should be converted to naira.

    The former minister was said to have directed that part of the money should be given to certain INEC officials.

    Oyedepo said N30 million was traced to Nwosu, who hid it in a Hilux van in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, following which the suspect was invited to the EFCC, where he confessed.

    He tendered Nwosu’s confessional statement and a document with which Nwosu acknowledged receipt of the N30 million.

    Oyedepo urged the judge to convict Nwosu as charged in view of his plea and the evidence adduced.

    Justice Idris held: “In line with the plea of the defendant coupled with the facts and the exhibits tendered by the prosecutor, the defendant is hereby convicted as charged.”

    Nwosu’s lawyer Mrs. Adaku Mbama urged the judge to temper justice with mercy.

    The other defendants, however, pleaded not guilty.

    EFCC alleged that Nwosu, Adedoyin and Bashir conspired with Mrs. Alison-Madueke to take possession of N264.88 million.

    The commission said they “ought to have reasonably known (that the money) formed part of proceeds of an unlawful act, to wit: gratification.”

    They were also accused of making cash payment of N234.88 million on March 27, 2015 without going through any financial institution.

    Adedoyin was said to have received N70.05 million from Bashir on March 27, 2015; Bashir took possession of N64.88 million, while Nwosu received and used N30 million the same day, EFCC alleged.

    Adedoyin and Bashir were granted bail at N50 million each and two sureties.

    Justice Idris directed the defendants to deposit their international passports with the court’s registrar.

    “They are to be remanded in prison until they meet their bail terms,” the judge added.

    Justice Idris adjourned till tomorrow when he will sentence Nwosu.

  • EFCC arraigns INEC officials over Diezani bribery

    EFCC arraigns INEC officials over Diezani bribery

    The Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned three Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials for allegedly receiving bribes from former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, to compromise results of the 2015 general elections.

    Christian Nwosu, Yisa Adedoyin and Tijani Bashir were arraigned before Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    They allegedly collected N264.88million bribe on March 27, 2015 from the minister ahead of the election.

    Nwosu pleaded guilty to the charge and was convicted for the offence of receiving N30 million bribe.

    Mrs. Alison-Madueke, said to be at large, was named in the charge.

    Prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, said Nwosu opted for plea bargain.

    The EFCC lawyer said Nwosu refunded N5million and surrendered title document of a landed property he bought for N25million in Delta State.

    According to him, EFCC acted on an intelligence report that Mrs. Alison-Madueke stashed $115million in a bank, with an oral instruction that the money should be converted to naira.

    The former minister was said to have directed that part of the money should be given to certain INEC officials.

    Oyedepo said N30million was traced to Nwosu, who hid it in a Hilux van in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, following which the suspect was invited to the EFCC where he confessed to the crime.

    He tendered Nwosus confessional statement and a document with which the INEC official acknowledged receipt of the N30million.

    Oyedepo urged the judge to convict Nwosu as charged following his guilty plea and the evidence adduced.

    Justice Idris held: “In line with the plea of the defendant coupled with the facts and the exhibits tendered by the prosecutor, the defendant is hereby convicted as charged.”

    Nwosu’s lawyer, Mrs. Adaku Mbama, urged the judge to temper justice with mercy in sentencing her client.

    The other defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.