Monday 9 May 2016

BLOODY:N23.29billion: EFCC quizzes 16 INEC directors

N23.29billion: EFCC quizzes
16 INEC directors


– 16 top officials of Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) have been
quizzed by EFCC operatives over the
N23.29billion election bribe
– Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke is believed
to be central to the huge bribe of INEC
officials to alter the 2015 presidential
election results
INEC ballot box
At least, 16 top officials of Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) have
been asked to report to the Abuja
headquarters of the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the alleged
N23.29billion bribe.
Former minister of petroleum resources, Mrs
Diezani Alison-Madueke is believed to be
central to the huge bribe of poll officials to
alter the 2015 presidential election results.
According to reports by Nation newspaper,
two Resident Electoral Commissioners
(RECs), 10 directors and an administrative
officer have been quizzed by EFCC over the
scandal.
The RECs are Gesila Khan who allegedly
collecting N185, 842,000 and Austen Okojie
whose infraction is still unknown while an
administrative secretary in Delta state,
Uluochi Obi Brown allegedly got
N111,500,000.
Aside facing EFCC probe, the INEC officials
will appear on Wednesday, May 11 before
the senior staff disciplinary committee
chaired by a National Commissioner,
Mustapha Lecky.
The Nation also reported that more RECs
and INEC officials may face the panel based
on EFCC’s investigation as it gave a full
break down of how the N23.29billion bribe
was distributed.
REC Gesil Khan allegedly collected N185,
842,000 out of a N681million bribe; Fidelia
Omoile( Electoral Officer in Isoko-South
Local Government Area of Delta State)—
N112,480,000 ; Uluochi Obi Brown( INEC’s
Administrative Secretary in Delta State)—
N111,500,000; a former Deputy Director of
INEC in Cross River state, Edem Okon
Effanga—N241,127,000 and the Head of
Voter Education in INEC in Akwa Ibom,
Immaculata Asuquo—N214,127,000.
Quoting a source, the report said: “Apart
from EFCC’s findings, the INEC management is
also looking into the scandal which has
battered the image of the commission.
EFCC arrests, grills 4 former ministers
“The Secretary of INEC, Mrs. Augusta Ogakwu,
has sent a letter of invitation to the affected
RECs and Administrative Secretary.
“Apart from the confidential report of the
EFCC, I think INEC may revisit the report of a
committee sent to Rivers and Akwa Ibom
during the 2015 poll when there were issues in
the two states.
“So far, EFCC has not accused Okojie of
involvement in the bribery but I think he is
being invited to face the disciplinary panel on
the basis of the report of the committee which
looked into issues in Akwa Ibom during the
2015 poll when he was the REC in the state.”
“Although the chairman of the disciplinary
committee is on a medical trip abroad, the
INEC management may find a way out.”
Meanwhile, former minister of Aviation, Femi
Fani-Kayode who is billed to report at the
Abuja office of the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC) today, May 9
has told the EFCC that he’s not a thief.
FFK as he fondly called is expected to
explain his role in the $115 million bribe
election bribe r eportedly dispensed by the
immediate past minister of petroleum,
Diezani Alison-Madueke.

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