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Judiciary
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Judiciary
PDP Campaign Fund: INEC Staffs Bag Years in
Jail
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC Kano zonal
office on Friday, June 28, 2019 secured the conviction of a Deputy
Director of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC,
Auwal Jibrin and one Garba Ismaila, before Justice Yusuf
Birnin-Kudu of the Jigawa State High Court sitting in Gumel, on a
six-count charge bordering on unlawful enrichment and
gratification.
The journey to prison for them started after the Commission
received intelligence report that they benefited from the
$115,010,000 largesse of a former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani
Alison-Madueke, in the build-up to the 2015 presidential
election.
Investigations showed that they benefitted the sum of
N45,000,000 (Forty Five Million Naira) out of the N250,000,000
disbursed in Jigawa State to influence the outcome of the
election.
Upon arraignment, they pleaded “not guilty” to the charges
thereby setting the stage for full trial.
During the course of trial, the prosecution presented five
witnesses and tendered 20 exhibits to prove the case against
them.
One of the charges reads: “That you, Auwal Jibrin, while being a
public Servant (Deputy Director with Independent National Electoral
Commission, Dutse) sometime in 2015, at Dutse within the Judicial
Division of this Honourable court dishonestly received the sum of
₦45,000,000 (Forty Five Million Naira) from Garba Ismail, which you
were not authorized to receive and you thereby committed an offence
punishable under section 122 of the Penal Code.”
Delivering judgement, Justice Birnin-Kudu held that: “The
prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt, all the elements and
facts of the case as contained in the charge and the testimonies of
prosecution witnesses and exhibits tendered.”
The court added that the defence team failed to counter the
evidence presented by the prosecution through its witnesses.
Thus, the court found the first defendant guilty as charged on
count two, while the second defendant was found guilty on counts
one and three.
The court, however, discharged them on counts four, five and
six.
Consequently, counsel for the EFCC, Mohammed Gambo, urged the
court to sentence them accordingly.
Counsel representing the second defendant, Jonathan Methezidie,
who also held the brief for counsel representing the first
defendant pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy in
sentencing the defendants.
After listening to the plea of the defence for mercy, the trial
judge sentenced the first defendant to seven years imprisonment
without an option of fine on count one, while the second defendant
who was the INEC Deputy Director was sentenced to six years each on
counts one and three.
The court further ordered the final forfeiture of the recovered
monies and properties attached to the investigation with the
exception of a three-bedroom flat attached at No. 1 Hadeja Road,
Birnin kudu, Jigawa State.
Tony Orilade
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity