Ex-INEC Staff Bag One Year Jail Term, Forfeit Properties To FG

The Lagos zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, (EFCC), has secured the conviction and sentencing of
two former staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC), before Justice Mahmoud Abdul-Gafar of the Kwara State High
Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Head, Media &
Publicity, (EFCC) Wilson Uwujaren, the convicts, Christian Nwosu
and Tijani Inda Bashir, were arraigned on seven counts bordering on
criminal misappropriation and criminal breach of trust while they
were in the employ of INEC.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred
against them, thereby leading to their full trial.

During the trial, the prosecution led by Rotimi Oyedepo called
witnesses and tendered several documents that were admitted in
evidence by the court.

In the face of the overwhelming evidence against them, the
convicts, thereafter, opted for a plea bargain with the prosecution
and also changed their pleas to “guilty”.

Consequently, the prosecution reviewed the facts before the
court and prayed that the defendants be convicted accordingly.

Delivering his judgment, Justice Abdul-Gafar found them guilty
of the offense and sentenced them to one-year imprisonment
each.

The Judge also ordered the final forfeiture of two landed
properties valued at N25 million at Okpanam, Asaba in Delta State
recovered from the first convict, Nwosu, as well as a N5 million
bank draft raised by him in favour of the Commission to the Federal
Government.

Justice Abdul-Gafar also ordered the final forfeiture of a
four-bedroom flat worth N27m at No. 60 Umme Street, Wuse Abuja
recovered from the second convict, Inda-Bashir, to the Federal
Government.

The Lagos zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, (EFCC), has secured the conviction and sentencing of
two former staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC), before Justice Mahmoud Abdul-Gafar of the Kwara State High
Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Head, Media &
Publicity, (EFCC) Wilson Uwujaren, the convicts, Christian Nwosu
and Tijani Inda Bashir, were arraigned on seven counts bordering on
criminal misappropriation and criminal breach of trust while they
were in the employ of INEC.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred
against them, thereby leading to their full trial.

During the trial, the prosecution led by Rotimi Oyedepo called
witnesses and tendered several documents that were admitted in
evidence by the court.

In the face of the overwhelming evidence against them, the
convicts, thereafter, opted for a plea bargain with the prosecution
and also changed their pleas to “guilty”.

Consequently, the prosecution reviewed the facts before the
court and prayed that the defendants be convicted accordingly.

Delivering his judgment, Justice Abdul-Gafar found them guilty
of the offense and sentenced them to one-year imprisonment
each.

The Judge also ordered the final forfeiture of two landed
properties valued at N25 million at Okpanam, Asaba in Delta State
recovered from the first convict, Nwosu, as well as a N5 million
bank draft raised by him in favour of the Commission to the Federal
Government.

Justice Abdul-Gafar also ordered the final forfeiture of a
four-bedroom flat worth N27m at No. 60 Umme Street, Wuse Abuja
recovered from the second convict, Inda-Bashir, to the Federal
Government.