Court jails two INEC ex-officials one year over misappropriation

Orders forfeiture of property to FG

The Lagos Zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has secured the conviction of two former officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) before Justice Mahmoud Abdul-Gafar of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State.

The convicts, Christian Nwosu and Tijani Inda Bashir, were arraigned on a seven-count charge bordering on criminal misappropriation and criminal breach of trust while they were in the employ of INEC.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges leading to their full trial.

During the trial, the prosecution, led by Rotimi Oyedepo, called witnesses and tendered several documents that were admitted in evidence by the court.

In the face of the overwhelming evidence against them, the convicts opted for a plea-bargain and at the same time changed their pleas to “guilty.”

Consequently, the prosecution reviewed the facts before the court and prayed that the defendants be convicted accordingly.

Delivering his judgment, Justice Abdul-Gafar found them guilty of the offence and sentenced them to one year imprisonment each.

The judge also ordered the final forfeiture of two landed properties valued at N25 million at Okpanam, Asaba in Delta State recovered from the first convict, Nwosu, as well as a N5 million bank draft raised by him in favour of the commission to the Federal Government.

Justice Abdul-Gafar also ordered the final forfeiture of a four-bedroom flat worth N27 million at No. 60 Umme Street, Wuse Abuja, recovered from the second convict, Inda-Bashir, to the Federal Government.