Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) yesterday arrested 10 suspected vote-buying merchants with N1.9 million cash in Gombe State while the governorship and legislative elections were going on.
The EFCC zonal commander in the state, Mr. Farul Dogondaji, disclosed this to NAN.
He said the suspects were apprehended in Gombe, Akko, Nafada and Kwami local government areas of the state.
He said the 10 suspects were arrested with N1, 923,900 cash and 43 wrappers while attempting to share the money and clothing materials to influence eligible voters in the affected area councils.
The EFCC commander said the suspects will be charged to court after investigation.
The spokesman for the EFCC, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren also said in a statement yesterday that the agency’s operatives arrested no fewer than 65 persons for alleged vote-buying across states where the governorship and legislative elections were held.
In Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Uwujaren said the election monitoring team arrested 12 suspects alleged to have been involved in voter inducement around Moscow Road, Elekahia, Township, Mile 2, Ward 2 polling Unit 2 and 30, Ogbum in Port Harcourt Local Government Area (PHALGA).
He stated that the suspects were arrested with A4 papers that had names, telephone and account numbers of persons suspected to be voters.
The EFCC spokesman also said the Uyo zonal command led by Ms Binta Rano, made four arrests at different locations in Calabar, Cross River State.
“The team arrested one Esther Edem, the Woman Leader of one of the political parties for Ward 11, Calabar South, Cross River State and two others, Edet Etim and Asanwana Eyo, for alleged vote buying in Calabar.
“The woman leader, who had a list of suspected voters, their account numbers and thousands of naira in cash, was apprehended inside an uncompleted building, beside her ward in Calabar South, while Etim and Eyo were arrested at Ward 12, Unit 11, at Kings Memorial School by Inyang Street, Abasi Obori, Calabar South.
“The duo of Etim and Eyo had with them their own lists and money they allegedly used in buying vote.”
He also said some arrests were made in Sokoto, Kebbi and Niger states while 20 suspects were apprehended by operatives from the Ilorin zonal command and 13 in Kaduna.
He said the suspects in Kaduna consisted of 10 males and three females.
“A suspect allegedly involved in vote buying was nabbed at School Road, Unguwan Rimi Kaduna. The suspect, who initially resisted arrest, is however in custody, pending the conclusion of the investigation.
“Also in Kaduna, the team led by Esmond Garba arrested one Buhari Muhammed in PU 002 Dogara Yaro Dagari area. He was arrested with voter coupons, which he confessed would be used to trace and pay those who voted for his party.
“Furthermore, the team monitoring the voting exercise around LEA Kabala Doki, Kaduna led by CSE Wakilu Omokide also arrested two individuals suspected of vote buying. Upon their arrest, a total sum of N67, 500, a list containing names of voters with their PVC numbers and their bank account details amongst others, were recovered from them,” he added.
Uwujaren said investigation by the anti-graft agency had so far revealed that the major modus operandi of the suspects was to give cash, transfer money, coupons, and send recharge cards to eligible voters in order to induce them to vote for certain candidates.
“A search of their persons and phones revealed that most of them had transferred money into the accounts of some voters on the lists recovered from them. Some of the items recovered from the suspects include voter cards, monies, list containing names and account details of voters. Others are recharge cards,” he said.
In Niger State, he said officers of the Kaduna Command arrested two suspected vote-buying agents.
He said one of them, Umar Ibrahim was arrested at Peter Sarki Road polling unit for alleged vote-buying.
“Upon searching his vehicle, an INEC ID tag (domestic election observer) bearing his name and photograph and also a letter of appointment from BOS (Bago Support Organisation) as director liaison, were uncovered. On further inquiry, he disclosed that a certain Mr. Usman Mohammed, who belongs to his political party, gave him the INEC ID tag
“The second suspect, Isa Salihu Bababida, was arrested at Unguwar Nassarawa with several lists of names, account numbers and BVN,” Uwujaren added.
Uwujaren gave the names of those arrested by the Ilorin command as Adekunle Ademola, Wasiu Raimi, Laaro Rasheed, Alagbe Taiwo, Boniface Victory, Kayode Toba, Adeoye Adetunji, Lawal Favour, Abidoye Moradeyo, Magaji Iliasu, Abdulkadir Abdulmumini and Musa Olasunkanmi.
Others are Marudeen Sadiq, Abogunrin Oluwasesan, Funmilayo Lawal, Olawuyi Bolarin, Garuba Ismail, Abiola Abogunrin, Amidu Tiamiyu and Usman Abdulazeez.
“The suspects, who were arrested at different polling units across the state, were caught with incriminating items including cash of various sums, notebook containing list of voters’ names, POS machine, mobile phones and voter cards, among others.
“Upon interrogation, some of the suspects identified themselves as party agents while some admitted distributing money to induce voters,” he added.
