The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is in a fix after the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the freezing of its accounts over a N34bn contract, thereby threatening the upcoming elections in Ekiti and Osun states.

The Court also ordered the deduction of over N17 billion from the accounts of the electoral body in favour of Beddings Holdings Ltd (BHL).

Justice John Tsoho granted a Garnishee Order Nisi on the accounts of INEC in First Bank PLC and UBA PLC with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the sum of N17.2bn.

DAILY POST reports that a garnishee proceeding, is a judicial process of execution or enforcement of monetary judgment whereby money belonging to a judgment debtor, in the hands or possession of a third party known as the ‘Garnishee’ (usually a bank), is attached or seized by a judgment creditor.

According to the court documents, Beddings Holdings Ltd.’s ex parte application, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/492/2018, was awarded the garnishee on an earlier judgement by former Chief Judge of the court, Justice Ibrahim Auta.

Justice Auta’s judgement delivered on January 28, 2014 was in respect of a contract for supply of Direct Data Capture (DDC) machines, Electronic Collapsible Transparent Ballot Boxes (ECTBB) and Proof Address System/Scheme (PASS) worth N34.5 billion for the 2010 voters’ registration.

Bedding Holdings had approached the court challenging INEC’s decision to give the contract to three companies – Zinox Technologies, Avante International and Haier Electrical Appliances, saying the decision had violated its patent right.
Joined in the suit with number FHC/ABJ/CS/816/2010 were INEC, the Attorney General of the Federation and the three companies that secured the contract.

The company urged the court to compel INEC to pay it half of the total contract sum amounting N17.2 billion as compensation for infringing on its valid and subsisting patent right.

The court agreed that with the total evidence provided by the parties in the case BHL owned a subsisting patent right over the process, application and the use of the DCC machines.

The court, therefore, ordered the then INEC chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to pay the compensation to the patent holder.

But INEC filed an appeal before the Court of Appeal in Abuja in 2014, challenging the judgement of the Federal High Court which awarded the compensation.

INEC is insisting at the Appeal Court with appeal number: CA/132A/2014 that BHL is not the sole patent owner of the election equipment.

It is also challenging the way and manner BHL rushed and secured the patent right from the Federal Ministry of Commerce within two weeks, even though the process takes months to accomplish.
The case is still pending at the Appeal Court when the ex parte order for the Garnishee Order Nisi was granted last month.

http://www.mcebisco.com.ng/2018/06/just-in-court-freezes-inec-account.html

Another Movie......
Ekiti Elections must Hold ooooo!!!
No buying of time...

In 2facevoice. They want to start another rigging again yooo.

This is quite a funny case. This is basically technology law, apparently the company with the original Suit "BHL" probably has expertise in these kinds of matters hence suing for half the fees of a contract they didn't even get awarded even though they also tried to get it.

INEC is insisting at the Appeal Court with appeal number: CA/132A/2014 that BHL is not the sole patent owner of the election equipment.

It is also challenging the way and manner BHL rushed and secured the patent right from the Federal Ministry of Commerce within two weeks, even though the process takes months to accomplish.
The case is still pending at the Appeal Court when the ex parte order for the Garnishee Order Nisi was granted last month.

This is the most important part of the whole text. It is really quite pertinent to note that Nigeria isn't even a real tech economy so how do they file for patents for technological devices and even "transparent ballot boxes" please which patent is required to make a freaking box

If them like let them Freeze ECOWAS account .....wetin concern us

Is the judge drunk or what?

NIGERIA....
PLAY GROUND...

BULKMERCHANT INT'L LIMITED MASSIVE RECRUITMENT
https://www.nairaland.com/4549131/bulkmerchant-intl-limited-massive-recruitment

I don Tire for this Cen.s.oring jare......I just saw the Zambian lady's uncut photos HERE!!!

MATTERS ARISING

Always from one drama to the other....if Nigeria were to be a movie...nobody will wanna waste his or her previous time to watch...cos, the more one stays to watch....the more confusing it gets ...smh big time for the giant of Africa standing on spaghetti legs.


I rise

Why

They are dealing with the executive branch left and right.

Nigerians are watching this movie to see how it will end

9ja and wahala are 5&6

Wiseandtrue:
If INEC likes they can even ask the court to cancel INEC for ever, APC cannot win Ekiti

Na by mouth action?

All this one na because of ekiti elections

Fayose your God is fighting for you

Wiseandtrue:
If INEC likes they can even ask the court to cancel INEC for ever, APC cannot win Ekiti

I hope you won’t claim the election was rigged when dem announce results o

Boju-boju

They want to drag it till Fayose tenure expires and he has no more immunity because they understand the power of incumbent. ALL IS STRATEGY

That will not stop fayose removal[.[/quote]

Wiseandtrue:
If INEC likes they can even ask the court to cancel INEC for ever, APC cannot win Ekiti

EZENDIZUOGU:
They want to drag it till Fayose tenure expires and he has no more immunity because they understand the power of incumbent. ALL IS STRATEGY

How can an electoral body, INEC, become useless like this? Such a body should maintain its dignity.

2019 elections are in soup

The children of hate and the idiotic pigs will always be commenting rubbish even without reading the news.

What has this judgement to do with the Ekiti state election when there a pending Appeal.

Hate will kill Igbos.

Does this have anything to do with Fayose and Ekiti election?

Wow

That BHL should be investigated for fraud!

obaataaokpaewu:
INEC no follow for TSA? Wetin dem dey use account number do?

inec is not a part of the government or any branch of government.
They are independent body.

Jega ke, old news

excelletia humana et opus

EZENDIZUOGU:
They want to drag it till Fayose tenure expires and he has no more immunity because they understand the power of incumbent. ALL IS STRATEGY

You made a very salient point. This is the handwork of the incumbent administration, but sm sure Fayose and his team will outsmart them ( APC )