EFCC arraigns 22 INEC employees, ex-director for alleged N32m fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arraigned 22
officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission and a
retired INEC director, Ahmed Stephen Ozovehe, in Kogi State, for
offences bordering on criminal conspiracy.

They were arraigned before Justice Alaba Ajileye of the Kogi
State High Court, Koton-Karefee.

The information was contained in a release on EFCC website.

The EFCC alleged that, sometime in March 2015, the defendants
engaged themselves in criminal act of conspiracy to fraudulently
obtain the sum of N32,120,000 as benefits to themselves during the
2015 general elections.

Prosecuting counsel, G.K. Latona, informed the court that the
matter was slated for arraignment, noting: “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.”

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 to take their
pleas.

One of the counts reads: “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 Elections,
2015 and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26(1)(i)
of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses 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 N10m, one
surety in like sum, the surety must not be below level 12 and must
be a Civil Servant (State or Federal).

The matter was adjourned to December 6 and 13, 2018 for
hearing.

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