Their arraignment was sequel to roles
played in the disbursements of 2015 presidential election campaign funds to some INEC Staff in Enugu State from the $115m provided by Mrs. Diezani
Alison-Madueke , former Minister of Petroleum Resources , to influence the
outcome of the election.
They were said to have made and
accepted cash payments exceeding the authorized limit required by law without
passing through a financial institution.
Investigation by the Commission
revealed that the sum of $27 Million USD was released which was converted to
N131,380,000 in various Bureau de Change. The sum formed part of N450 Million
released to the Enugu state PDP Campaign team.
The money was allegedly collected by Nathan
Owhor from some party chieftains and taken to a hotel at New Haven, Enugu where
it was disbursed to all supervising returning officers of INEC for onward
disbursement to other staff in all the local government areas of the state.
Both men pleaded not guilty to the
charges leveled against them and were granted bail in the sum of Five Million
Naira (N5, 000,000) each and one surety each who must not be below the rank of
a director in either state or federal ministry. The sureties must also own
landed properties within the court’s jurisdiction.
Justice Liman further ruled that the
accused person should continue to enjoy the administrative bail granted by EFCC
until the conditions listed above are met within seven days. Failure to meet
the conditions, they would be re-arrested and remanded in prison custody.
The
matter has been adjourned to October 10, 2018.
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