Over 200 Staff Suspended By INEC For Accepting Bribe
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said on Tuesday that it has suspended more than 200 officers for accepting bribes to influence the outcome of the 2015 vote won by the opposition.
The electoral umpire disclosed this in Abuja that 205 staff were found guilty of corruption after an investigation carried out by the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
"Based on their level of involvement, 205 serving INEC staff will be immediately placed on interdiction, which entails suspension from duties and being placed on half salary, pending the final determination of the cases they have with the EFCC,” it said.
According to the commission, the case of 70 other staff would be sent back to the EFCC for further investigation and possible prosecution.
It added that the electoral officers suspended were found to have collected some three billion naira (9.5 million dollars, 8.9 million euros) in bribes to influence the election which was lost by the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan.
"There was a clear attempt to bribe INEC staff to influence the outcome of the 2015 general elections using an NGO, the West African Network of Election Observers (WANEO), made up mainly of retired senior
INEC officials.
“Out of over 23 billion naira, which the EFCC report said was used to influence the elections, the committee (INEC) established that 3,046,829,000 naira was received by INEC staff in 16 states,” it added.
The statement added that the NGO through which the bribe was distributed was also sanctioned.
"WANEO and its principal promoters are immediately blacklisted. The network shall no longer be involved in election observation and any other activities organised by INEC.” it said.
The electoral umpire disclosed this in Abuja that 205 staff were found guilty of corruption after an investigation carried out by the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
"Based on their level of involvement, 205 serving INEC staff will be immediately placed on interdiction, which entails suspension from duties and being placed on half salary, pending the final determination of the cases they have with the EFCC,” it said.
According to the commission, the case of 70 other staff would be sent back to the EFCC for further investigation and possible prosecution.
It added that the electoral officers suspended were found to have collected some three billion naira (9.5 million dollars, 8.9 million euros) in bribes to influence the election which was lost by the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan.
"There was a clear attempt to bribe INEC staff to influence the outcome of the 2015 general elections using an NGO, the West African Network of Election Observers (WANEO), made up mainly of retired senior
INEC officials.
“Out of over 23 billion naira, which the EFCC report said was used to influence the elections, the committee (INEC) established that 3,046,829,000 naira was received by INEC staff in 16 states,” it added.
The statement added that the NGO through which the bribe was distributed was also sanctioned.
"WANEO and its principal promoters are immediately blacklisted. The network shall no longer be involved in election observation and any other activities organised by INEC.” it said.
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