By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
Three officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were on Monday arraigned before Justice Sule Hassan of a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi Lagos State, Nigeria by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over offences bordering on N179.8 million fraud.
The trio, Yemi Akinwonmi, Dickson Atiba and Ogunmodede Oladayo were docked on eight- counts charge of conspiracy, benefitting from proceeds of crime, receiving cash sums without going through financial institutions and accepting cash sums exceeding amount authorized by the law.
They were alleged to have received the said sums from various commercial banks sometimes in March 2015, within the period of 2015 general election.
The offences allegedly committed by the accused persons contravene the provisions of Section 15(2)(d), 16 (d) 1(a), 16 (1) (d),16 (d) and 18 (a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act 2011 as amended.
After listening to the charge preferred against them,the accused persons pleaded not guilty all the counts.
After their pleas, the prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, urged the court to remand them in prison custody, and issue a trial date.
Responding, the defence counsel asked the court for a very short adjournment for hearing of their bail applications.
Consequently, Justice Hassan adjourned the case until August 6, for hearing of the accused’s bail applications.
The judge ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody pending hearing of their motion for bails.