The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned 22 officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and a retired INEC director, Ahmed Stephen Ozouche, in Kogi State for offences bordering on criminal conspiracy, SaharaReporters reports.
They were arraigned before Justice Alaba Ajileye of the Kogi State High Court, Koton-Karefee.
According to a statement by EFCC on Wednesday, it was alleged that sometime in March 2015, the defendants conspired to fraudulently obtain the sum of N32,120,000 as benefits for themselves during the 2015 general election.
Prosecuting counsel, G.K. Latona, informed the court that the matter was slated for arraignment.
“However, due to the absence of the second defendant, I will be seeking for a short adjournment to enable me determine the next step to take regarding the matter,” he said.
The defendant was said to be among the INEC staff that lost their lives in a tragic motor accident that occurred in Kogi recently.
The defence team, however, argued that “the prosecution ought to have known by now that the second defendant cannot be in court to take his plea”, and so urged the court to take the plea of the defendants in court. Justice Ajileye, thereafter, ordered those present should take their pleas.
One of the counts read: “That you Ahmed Stephen Ozovehe, Retired Director with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)/Election Observer, Adison Mailafiya, Administrative Secretary INEC Kogi State and Ogwudu Edeh Micheal, Deputy Director, INEC sometime in March 2015 in Lokoja within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did engage yourselves in criminal conspiracy to confer benefit of the sum of N32,120,000 (Thirty two million, one hundred and twenty thousand naira) only from Haliru Haruna, Sase David Z, Dauda Usman Umaru, Christopher Utile, Garba Zubairu Adamu and James Yiyeh all electoral officers of INEC in Kogi State in relation to their function of conducting the General Election, 2015 and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26(1)(i) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act. 2000 and punishable under Section 10(a)(ii) of the same Act.”
They all pleaded “not guilty” when the charge was read to them.
They were afterwards admitted to bail in the sum of N10 million, one surety in like sum, who must not be below level 12 and must be a civil servant (state or federal).
The matter was adjourned till December 6 and 13, 2018 for hearing.
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