Connect with us

Crime

EFCC recovers N65m from Zamfara INEC Office, arrests 14 electoral officials for diverting N85m [Photos]

Published




The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission [EFCC] on Wednesday recovered N65, 548, 000 from the offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission [INEC] in Zamfara State.

The anti-graft agency said it recovered the money from two fireproof safes during a search in the offices of the head of Accounts and Cashier of INEC in the state.

The EFCC had conducted the raid following a petition by an INEC ad-hoc staff, alleging that INEC illegally deducted part of the allowance due them for the last general election.

According to the complainant, while INEC in Zamfara allegedly paid its ad hoc staff the sum of N9,000, others in states like Sokoto were paid N12,000.

MORE READING!  SSANU, NASU begins seven-day nationwide strike today

The recovered fund is suspected be part of the funds illegally deducted from releases meant to cater for the movement of materials and electoral officials as well as the provision of chairs, tables and canopies for the 2019 governorship and presidential elections in the state

Before the raid, the EFCC had arrested four officials of INEC in the state. The officials, Hassan Sidi Aliyu, Administrative Secretary; Hussain Jafar, Head of Operations; Abdullahi Yusuf Abubakar, State Accountant; and the Cashier Labaran Ishaka, were picked for alleged conspiracy, breach of trust and criminal diversion of Ad hoc staff allowance to the tune of N84, 696,000.

MORE READING!  Chaos erupts in Delta as police allegedly shoot protesters

Investigations by the EFCC revealed that none of the 10,500 presiding officers who participated in the elections were paid their entitlements commutatively put at N84, 696,000.

The 14 Electoral Officers of the state were also arrested.

They are Abdullahi Sambawa, Zurmi LGA; Aliyu Jafaru Goronyo, Maradun LGA; Balarabe Ahmed S Gobir, Gummi LGA; Amadu Ibrahim, Gusau LGA; Mohammed Bashir Musa, Kaura Namoda LGA; Dalhatu Usman Musa,Birnin Magaji LGA; Abdulmumin Usman, Maru LGA; Muhammad Nasir Saidu, Talatu Mafara LGA; Abdullahi A. Ukashatu, Tsafe LGA; Tukur Garba Kaita, Bungudu LGA; Salihu Musa Abdullahi, Bukuyun LGA; Sadiq Abdullahi, Fari Anka LGA; Lawali Muhammed, Argungu Bakura LGA; Jafaru Gide, Shinkafi LGA; Tanimu Muhammad, Shinkafi LGA; and Hassan Abdullahi,Shinkafi LGA.

MORE READING!  I no longer smoke, take alcohol - Singer Solidstar

The investigation is still ongoing while efforts are being made to recover all the illegal deductions.

Advertisement
Comments



Trending