BEVERLY HILLS, January 16, (THEWILL) – About 200 officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have been queried for allegedly collecting bribe to the tune of N23.29billion.
The money was allegedly paid out to the INEC officials by former Oil Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, in a desperate bid to change the results of the 2015 election.
A panel of inquiry, headed by a National Commissioner, Baba Shetiima Arfo, is investigating the alleged bribery scandal with a task to hand over all indicted personnel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for prosecution.
THEWILL gathered that four oil firms, 14 Directors of oil companies, two banks, two RECs, 16 INEC Directors and 82 other officials are also under investigation.
This was confirmed by INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Wole Osaze-Uzzi who stated that: “A panel is sitting but I cannot confirm the total number of people involved. But all those involved will be dealt with administratively without prejudice to what the law enforcement agencies will do.”
Some of the officers who have been questioned by the EFCC are the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Abia State, Sylvester Ezeani, who has refunded N20million credited to him from the poll cash; a former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Gesil Khan, for collecting N185, 842,000 out of a N681million bribe deal; 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.
Sani Isa, a retired INEC official, was also questioned over alleged N406,206,000 bribe he allegedly collected on behalf of the deceased Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in Kano State, Alhaji Mukaila Abdullahi.
Also, Godwin Maiyaki Gambo Balanga, Bukar Alone Benisheik, Jibril. B. Muhammed, Dunguma Musa Dogona, Mohammed. A. Wanka, Ishaku Yusuf, Kwami, Suleiman Isawa, Babagana Malami, and Nuhu Samuel have been questioned in Gombe.
