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How INEC staff in 16 states collected N3bn to rig 2015 polls- Commission

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday formally admitted and told the story of how its operatives, working with a clandestine organization allegedly made up of retired staff of the agency, collected bribes totaling over N3billion to rig the 2015 elections.

Speaking through one of its Commissioners in charge of voter education, Mallam Mohammed Haruna, INEC alleged that a Non-Governmental Organization, West African Network of Election Observers, were the brains behind the coordinated effort to abridge the electoral process through bribery of INEC officials.

“There was a clear attempt to bribe INEC staff to influence the outcome of the 2015 general elections using an NGO, West African Network of Election Observers, made up mainly of retired senior INEC officials.
“Out of over N23bn, 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.”

Haruna’s tale as told Tuesday to newsmen who gathered in Abuja went thus:

“The commission met today (Tuesday) to consider the report of its expanded Appointment, Promotion and Disciplinary Committee on the EFCC Interim Report on Bribery, Corruption and Money Laundering Charges during the 2015 general elections.

“You may recall that late last year, the commission received an interim report from the EFCC detailing allegations against 202 serving and retired INEC officials and staff in 16 states of the federation.

Read also: INEC boss Mahmood presents beyond 2019 strategic plans

“In furtherance of its zero tolerance for corruption in the electoral process, the commission ordered a thorough investigation into the allegations to establish the culpability or otherwise of those named in the EFCC report.

“The committee’s work was thorough and painstaking, involving issuance of queries to the 202 officials mentioned in the report and interviewing them individually in accordance with the principle of fair hearing and in consonance with INEC Staff Conditions of Service.

“As a result of the initial findings of the committee, 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.

“The cases of one former National Commissioner, five former Resident Electoral Commissioners (one of them deceased) have been referred to the Presidency and the 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.”

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

“Out of over N23bn, 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.”

While the Nigerian state has battled over the years to defend the integrity of the elections conducted by her, the emerging story of compromise of INEC officials is the largest single attempt to fish out and punish electoral officials and, perhaps, clean up the system.

 

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0 Comments

  1. Aminu Baba

    April 13, 2017 at 8:53 am

    Who is asking about the source of the cash. Is he in Nigeria at all? Where was he when Nenadi Usman, Diezeni, Fani Kayode, Fayose, Obanikoro, Halliru Mohammed, Bafarawa, Baba Kusa & Co Plc, under the Chaimanship and CEO of corruption international incorporated were playing Father Christmas with billions of Naira around the country during the campaigns? Iam sure even your Church Pastor must have received his share of the looted bonanza. If he hasn’t, advice him kuku go hold the frock of father Oritsejafor till he suffocates and start sweating some green backs from the South African arms purchase adventure

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