GOVT BEGINS PROSECUTION OF INEC OFFICIALS, OTHERS FOR ELECTORAL FRAUD


The Federal Government through the Nigerian Bar Association has commenced the prosecution of some staff members of the Independent National Electoral Commission and political party members indicted for various electoral offences during the 2023 general elections.

Electoral offences remain a major threat to credible, free and fair elections in Nigeria, as they often heighten political tension and trigger violence.

Following the February 25, 2023, presidential and National Assembly elections, the immediate past Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, said over 700 offenders were arrested by men of the Nigeria Police Force for violating electoral laws.

INEC had on May 2, 2023, said it would prosecute 215 handed over to it out of the 774 persons arrested for various electoral offences by the NPF during the polls.

The commission said it was partnering with the NBA, which offered pro bono legal services for the effective prosecution of the electoral offenders.

Out of the 215 case files received by the commission, 196 cases are electoral offences and are being handled by INEC and the NBA.

The National Publicity Secretary, NBA, Habeeb Lawal, told our correspondent on Friday that 196 suspects, including INEC officials and members of political parties, were being prosecuted for various electoral offences such as vote-buying, arms possession, and others committed during the 2023 poll.

Lawal noted that the prosecution was being carried out in magistrates’ courts and the high courts of the states and the Federal Capital Territory.

He explained, “A total of 196 suspects are being prosecuted for various offences by volunteering members of the Nigerian Bar Association, who are handling the cases pro bono.

“The offences range from dereliction of duty, criminal conspiracy and disorderly conduct at election venues, unlawful possession of arms on election day, snatching and destroying of INEC materials, electoral malpractices, unlawful possession of election materials, voter inducement and vote-buying, malicious damage and assault, and electoral violence.

“Some of the suspects are INEC officials, while others are political party members and people without determinable political affiliations.

“The magistrates’ courts and the high courts of the states and the FCT have jurisdiction over electoral offences by virtue of the Electoral Act.

“Therefore, the offences are being prosecuted by our members in these different courts all over the country, as there is hardly anyone state of the federation that the prosecution is not ongoing.”

When asked what impact the prosecution would have on future elections, the publicity secretary noted, “We believe that successful prosecution of electoral offenders will deter people desperate to assume political offices.

“We are hopeful that this modest effort will positively impact and sanitise our electoral system and culture.”

The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, stated that the commission would not condone bad behaviour, adding that future offenders would be held accountable for their actions.

Oyekanmi said, “By engaging in the commendable collaboration with the Nigerian Bar Association to jointly prosecute electoral offenders, the Independent National Electoral Commission is reinforcing its resolve not to condone bad behaviour.

“It is also our strong message to aspiring offenders that they will be held accountable for their actions.


“While we have achieved some measure of success in prosecuting electoral offenders in the past, the NBA’s offer to assist us pro bono will further widen the scope and serve as a deterrent to others.”

The Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Auwal Rafsanjani, stated that Nigeria would be free from election violence and corruption if electoral offenders were dealt with.

He stated, “As a way of sanitising the electoral process, there must be sanctions or penalties for people who break our law.

“Political parties will warn their members and supporters to stay off violence to avoid rubbishing the image of the parties once they are aware of the consequences of committing electoral offences.

“Nigeria will be free from manipulation, election violence, and corruption.”

A legal practitioner, Victor Giwa, said prosecuting electoral offenders would discourage election irregularities and produce credible leadership.

Giwa explained, “People prepare for rigging elections. They budget money for getting thugs, and bribing security agencies and INEC officials because these offenders are not prosecuted.

“But when Nigeria starts prosecuting electoral offenders, it will discourage election irregularities and reduce electoral offences. It will help to provide proper and credible leadership.

“When electoral offenders are not prosecuted, it reduces confidence in the electoral process.”

Reacting to the development, a rights activist and Chancellor, International Society for Social Justice and Human Rights, Jackson Omenazu, said since it had become the norm for electoral offenders to rob the citizens, deny them their rights as stated in the Electoral Act, and violate the electoral laws of the country, the arrested offenders should be severely punished irrespective of their personality.

According to him, electoral offenders have gone scot-free over the years, adding that their proper prosecution would deliver a balanced electoral process in the country.

He said, “No armed robber can rob 10,000 persons at a stretch. An INEC official with criminal intentions can rob one million people at a stretch and get away with it and one of the biggest problems we have in this country today is that electoral offenders have gone scot-free all these years.

“These things are criminal and honestly, until electoral offenders are punished severely, we will not get a balanced electoral process in this country no matter who is involved. My advice to the media is that they should escalate the matter so there won’t be any chance for them to sweep it under the carpet.”

Also commenting, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Afam Osigwe, explained that the most important thing was to show Nigerians that there were consequences for all actions, adding that for the electoral process to have integrity, the arrested electoral offenders should be properly prosecuted.

He added that actions must be matched with words by ensuring that those who adhered to the electoral law and process had their gains in court, while offenders found culpable should be made to face the full wrath of the law.

Osigwe said, “I do not know who is involved but the important thing for me is that Nigeria must show that actions must have consequences and that for our electoral process to have integrity, those who are apprehended for all manners of electoral malpractices or offences should be prosecuted. We should match action with words by ensuring that people who try to support the electoral process have their gain in court and that the full weight of the law is brought against those who are found culpable.

“We must show that we are a nation ruled by law and that the full weight of our law must be brought against those who breach them. For me, that is the important message that you will be passing if this prosecution is successfully carried out.”

Source:
https://punchng.com/govt-begins-prosecution-of-inec-officials-others-for-electoral-fraud/

Ok Naa

Prosecuting those who didn't work for APC you mean?

The electoral reform needs to be enforced on all election matters.
Until those involved in electoral fraud and all sorts of electoral malpractices are brought to book, it will be difficult to have free and fair election.
Some hooligans were gunned down for ballot snatching in the last election , that's a good punishment for trying to subvert the will of the people.
We must get it right one day.

Which election fraud..is the incumbent political party complaining? Who did the INEC OFFICIALS work for?

Na wash

lol they are the scape goats. Collateral damage. What happens to the INEC Chair ?

It’s not the fg or inec that surprises me in this country. It is the fools who are suffering but still wholeheartedly believe that the govt is actively trying to better their lives. And these fools cut across all tribes and religion in this country. Yes!!! Yorubas, Ibos and, Hausas.

Buhari from the north ran this country aground.
Now Tinubu a man from the west who initially claimed there was nothing like subsidy came back to remove the subsidy and some fools on this forum believe the man knows what he is doing. That’s tantamount to a man lobbying for petroleum minister without knowing how many refineries we have in Nigeria.
Then there are those who believe that Obi would have been the messiah. He would have gotten there to either play game as usual and bow to the pressure of the forces that actually rule this country or those forces would have turned this country upside down till even the ibos will start cursing him as the Yorubas are doing now to Tinubu except the ones that don’t have much sense.

The common enemy is the political class but idiots here who are suffering will still come and insult each other. 7 more years!!!

A man on live tv was trying to expose the rot in nddc and your current senate president shouted ‘off your mic’ but there are idiots here who believe he is a saint.
We saw the leaked Memo on the amount given to the senate for deliberation and yet we still have idiots who believe the political class is working for their best interest. But if you ask them about this they will be silent on it. Their major concern was the moles in govt leaking these memos. Fools!!!

Make una de fool una self

Lols

Tinubu prosecuting tinubu

Mtcheww

Na only Yakubu u guys should punish

WTF did I just read 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

Naija na BBN house I swear

Few days ago, people offered prayers and curses on INEC head who was alleged to have rigged the 2023 election because it was confusing how a party that lost Lagos, Kano and Abuja won the election. More confusing is how the party won Rivers state

Now the same government wants to try some INEC officials

This one na scape goat film dem wan act

Naija… I hail oooo!!!!

419 at it's peak 😆😆😆😆😆😆😂😆😂😆


Mahmoud just dey laugh 😂

Where is yakubu ? Sorry he has immunity. His boss is the owner of Nigeria

BluntCrazeMan:


Source:
https://punchng.com/govt-begins-prosecution-of-inec-officials-others-for-electoral-fraud/

It's a charade if Wike, Tinubu and Yakubu are not prosecuted

Confused FG...

Realman50:
Na wash

Is this a joke or what? Prosecuting those that perpetrated the same act that supreme Court upheld??

These prosecutors no well oo

Tinubu prosecuting INEC? Jokers!

I hope the heroine of abia is spared

Those who overseer elections in Lagos will not be prosecuted. And those officials that made it difficult for them to win will be prosecuted.

Nice one

Bayo Onanuga, MC Oluomo and their thugs should top the list for the killing, maiming and destruction of lives and properties of people believed to be from a particular ethnic group because of their democratic choice during the last general elections in Lagos state

So Mahmoud yakubu will be sent to prison. Good development from the FG

Is this a joke or something

yinkus6750:
The electoral reform needs to be enforced on all election matters.
Until those involved in electoral fraud and all sorts of electoral malpractices are brought to book, it will be difficult to have free and fair election.
Some hooligans were gunned down for ballot snatching in the last election , that's a good punishment for trying to subvert the will of the people.
We must get it right one day.

You forgot to mention those that submitted fake certificates, inflated fake results and used fake Chicago state university certs. Who will be the first to be tried ? Naija sha