Photos: Three INEC Staff Charged With Receiving N179m Diezani Bribe Appear In Court

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC on Monday arraigned three officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, at the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos and charged them with receiving N179.8 million stolen money as bribe from former oil minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The men, Yemi Akinwunmi, Atiba Dickson and Ogunmodede Oladayo, docked before Justice Muslim Hassan, of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi are being tried on an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, diversion of public funds and money laundering.

The defendants- -were alleged to have collected the slush funds in the build-up to the 2015 presidential election.


Investigation revealed that the money was disbursed to some chieftains and members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, as well as some retired staff of INEC in Ogun State to compromise the 2015 general elections.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them.

In view of their pleas, the prosecution counsel, Nnaemeka Omewa, asked the court for a trial date and also prayed that the defendants be remanded in prison custody.

However, counsel to the defendant, Ayo Ogungbesan, moved an oral application for bail on behalf of his clients. In refusing the bail application, the judge held that the defence counsel must make a formal application for bail on behalf of his clients. Consequently, Justice Hassan adjourned the matter to August 6, 2018 for hearing of the bail application and ordered the defendants to be remanded prison custody.

NAN