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EFCC arraigns INEC officials for collecting N362m bribe from Diezani

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-Two staffs of INEC have been arraigned by the Economic Financial Crime Commission, EFCC for receiving N362m bribe from Diezani to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential election.

Two officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, have been arraigned before the Adamawa State High Court by the Gombe zonal office of EFCC for collecting N362m bribe from a former minister of petroleum, Diezani Allison-Madueke to alter the outcome of the 2015 presidential election.

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Naija News gathered that the two- Ibrahim Muhammed Umar and Sahabo Iya Hamman, both serving and retired staff of the , INEC, appeared before Justice Nathan Musa.

They are facing a 3-count charge bordering on conspiracy, corrupt procurement and receipt of monetary benefit.

It was further learnt that Ibrahim, the electoral officer in charge of Yola South Local Government Area of Adamawa state, allegedly conspired with Sahabo, a retired INEC staff and Adamawa state coordinator of West African Network of Election Observers (WANEO) to receive the sum of N362m, part of the N23b bribe allegedly distributed by Mrs Alison-Madueke, to influence the 2015 presidential poll.

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Photo: PMNews

However, investigation showed that N65.2m from the money collected was shared among INEC officials in the state while N281.9m could not be accounted for by the accused.

Photo: PMNews

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The charge reads in part: “That you, Ibrahim Mohammed Umar, Sahabo Iya Hamman and Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke (now at large) sometime between March and May, 2015 at Yola, Adamawa State within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, while being a public officer working with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), retired public servant and former Minister of Petroleum Resources (now at large) and in capacities, did corruptly procured monetary benefit of N362,000,000 in favour of Public Officer and staff working with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of Adamawa State contrary to and punishable under Section 9 (1) (a) & (b) of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Justice Nathan granted bail to the accused in the sum of N10m each and two sureties in like sum. The sureties must possess landed property worth N10m within the jurisdiction of the court must be verified by the court.

The case was adjourned to October 17, 18 and 19, 2017 for further hearing.