25 January 2019•Update: 25 January 2019
By Rafiu Ajakaye
LAGOS Nigeria
Two officials of Nigeria's electoral body were jailed Friday for seven years each for collecting bribes to manipulate ballots in favor of the former ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) nearly four years ago.
Former administrative secretary to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Christian Nwosu, and another official, Tijani Bashir, were found guilty of collecting $735,777 from former Petroleum Minister Diezani Allison-Madueke to rig the elections.
Allison-Madueke fled to the U.K. and efforts to repatriate her has been unsuccessful.
Federal High Court Judge Mohamed Idris said the prosecution successfully proved allegations of bribery and money laundering and slapped them with a guilty verdict that included seizure of assets linked to the crimes.
The ruling comes just a few weeks before Nigeria holds crucial general elections between Feb. 16 and March 2.
“The convicts were officials of INEC and were expected to conduct themselves as impartial umpires in carrying out their activities,” the judge said.
“INEC officials must be made to understand that their conduct must be within the ambit of the law and that anyone who breaches the law will be dealt with to the full extent of the law,” he added.
