The Independent National Electoral Commission has said that
202 of its members of staff who were
indicted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for allegedly
receiving part of the N23bn bribe money ahead of the 2015 elections would learn
their fate next week.
The INEC’s National Commissioner in charge of the
South-South, Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu, said during a press briefing in Abuja on
Thursday that the final report of an administrative panel set up by the
commission to review the indictment of the personnel by the EFCC would be
considered by the commission at its meeting next week.
According to her, the 202 INEC personnel whose names
appeared on the EFCC’s report were drawn from 14 states.
She stated also that the 29 members of staff of the
commission were indicted and recommended for disciplinary action by the
Administrative Panel’s report on the December 20, 2016 rerun election in Rivers
State led by Prof. Okechukwu Ibeano.
She said that the cases involving the indicted members of
staff were before the commission’s disciplinary committee.
Agbamuche-Mbu added that the commission had fulfilled its
promise to overhaul its office in Rivers State.
She said the reorganisation affected the administrative
secretary, all heads of department, deputy directors, and assistant directors
as well as all the 23 electoral officers in charge of the commission’s local
government offices.
Agbamuche-Mbu said that all the affected members of staff
would be redeployed out of Rivers State immediately.
Agbamuche-Mbu added that five more RECs would be leaving the
commission by March 4, 2017 (Saturday) in addition to the 28 that had already
left after completing their tenure.
She listed those leaving the commission in March to include
“Prof. Jacob Jatau (FCT), Mr. Segun Agbaje (Ondo), Mr. Austin Okojie (Bayelsa),
Baba Abba Yusuf (Adamawa) and Mr. Nasir Ayilara (Niger).”
Investigation further revealed that three RECs are billed to
leave the commission after serving out their tenure in July.
A top source in the commission listed those exiting the
commission in July to include Aniedi Ikoiwak (Rivers), Baritor Kpagih (Delta) and Habu Zarma Hinna (Taraba).
With the departure of the three RECs in July, INEC would be
left with a REC, Abdulahi Kaigama of Kaduna State, if no REC had been appointed for other 36 states.
By Fidelis Soriwei
