The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned 22 INEC staff and a retired INEC director, Ahmed Stephen Ozouche, in Kogi State for offences bordering on criminal conspiracy amounting to N32million.
The 22 INEC Staff and ex-director were arraigned before Justice Alaba Ajileye of the Kogi State High Court, Koton-Karefee.
According to EFCC, the 22 INEC staff and ex-director, were alleged to have in sometimes in March 2015, engaged themselves in criminal act of conspiracy to fraudulently obtain the sum of N32, 120,000 (Thirty two Million, One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira) only as benefits to themselves during the 2015 general elections.
Prosecuting counsel, G.K. Latona, informed the court that the matter was slated for arraignment. “However, due to the absence of the second defendant, I will be seeking for a short adjournment to enable me determine the next step to take regarding the matter,” he said.
The defendant was said to be among the INEC staff that lost their lives in a tragic motor accident that occurred in Kogi recently. .
The defence team of the 22 INEC staff, however, argued that “the prosecution ought to have known by now that the second defendant cannot be in court to take his plea”, and so urged the court to take the plea of the defendants in court. Justice Ajileye, thereafter, ordered those present should take their pleas.