EFCC arraigns two INEC staff over N817.6m criminal charges

ECONOMIC and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Wednesday arraigned two Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff in Kwara state, Christian Nwosu and Tijani Nda Bashiru at the state high court, Ilorin for alleged criminal breach of trust in respect of N817.6 million entrusted to them in their capacity as public officers.

In addition, Tijani Nda Bashiru was charged with criminal breach of trust in respect of a total sum of N77 million, while Christian Nwosu was accused of misappropriation of N4.9 million.

The accused persons were said to have committed the offence between February 27, 2013, and 2015 and did that while in the employment of the INEC, Ilorin contrary to and punishable under Sections 97, 315, 308, and 309 of the Penal Code.

The two accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.

The counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court the list of eight witnesses he intended to call for evidence, including one Abdulrahman Adebayo Abdulganiyu, who he said would give evidence of how his bank account was allegedly used to warehouse the proceeds of the alleged offences.

While making an oral application for bail, counsel to the defendants, Obinna Okereke and Nelson Imoh, prayed the court to grant the two accused persons bail, saying that the offences with which they were charged are bailable offences.

The council, who also said that the defendants had been in the EFCC custody since February 7, 2018, added that they were rearrested in Lagos court.

Opposing the bail application, prosecution counsel said that the accused persons may obstruct the course of the investigation, considering evidence he had against them.

Justice Sikiru Oyinloye later granted each of the accused persons N50 million bail condition, saying that they should provide two sureties with each in like sum.

He also said that their sureties should have landed property within the jurisdiction, adding that they should depose to the verified and satisfied bail bond, provide the statement of account as at Wednesday, submit their current photographs individually and collectively, and deposit their travel document.

He said that the bail could be revoked if the accused persons failed to adhere to terms upon which it was granted.

The court then ordered that the defendants should be remanded in prison custody, pending when they meet the bail conditions.

The matter was adjourned till 26 and 27 of April 2018 hearing.