Alleged N360m Bribery: Court Transfers Trial Of 23 INEC Officials To Rivers
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has transferred the case file of twenty three officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to Rivers state, Port Harcourt.
The officials were accused of collecting bribe to the tune of N360,000,000 from the governor of the state, Nyesome Wike.
Recall that the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) on March 7 this year, filed a seven-count charge against the 23 INEC staff for allegedly receiving the said sum in connection with the December 10, 2016, rerun elections in River State.
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However, in a ruling on Monday, Justice John Tsoho upheld the objection raised by the INEC staff against their being tried in Abuja since their alleged offence took place in Rivers State.
Justice Tsoho, therefore, remitted the case-file back to the Chief Judge for it to be transferred to the Port Harcourt Division of the Federal High Court.
He ruled that the FG failed to prove that there is security threat in Rivers State to warrant the trial to be conducted in Abuja.
Those cited as defendants in suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR//42/2017, were Shittu Mohammed Lamido (Shettima), Henry Owokure, Peter Ewatade, Mrs. Mary Jummai, Tunkoyo Pennap, Gwatana Jibril, Ivase Stephen, Abdullahi Ogabo, Gayus Hassan, Hussaina Yahaya, James Ogwuche, Karimu Aminu and Adedokun Najeem Ayotunde.
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Others include, Balogun Funmilayo, Adams Kadiri, Akinwande Adesoji, Lukeman Olabimpe, Tiamiyu Arowolo, Akinwoye Amodu, Nwoha Yusuf, Patrick Anuke, Iro Abali, Nwosu Oluchi and Arukwe Chinelo.
