The operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), on Saturday, arrested no fewer than nine persons for alleged vote-buying in Osun, Ondo, Borno, Akwa Ibom, and Sokoto states during the presidential and National Assembly elections.
Four persons were arrested by ICPC operatives in Osun, two persons were nabbed in Sokoto, while one person each was arrested in Ondo, Akwa Ibom, and Borno states.
The ICPC spokesperson, Azuka Ogugua, in a statement, disclosed that the four suspects were arrested in Osun State with documents containing lists of names, phone numbers, and account details of voters during the elections in the state.
Ogugua stated that the suspects are in the custody of the anti-graft agency.
She stated that the operatives of the Commission retrieved a list of names and phone numbers of voters from Adewale Teslim at Polling Unit 07, Ward 07, Ile Aganna in Olorunda Local Government Area of Osun State.
She added that the ICPC operatives also recovered a list of people who had voted with their phone numbers and account details from Yemi Adebiyi at Polling Unit 06, Ward 04 at Ikirun Junction, Ikirun while Shake Idris was arrested at Polling Unit 6, Ward 10, Ofatedo area of Osun State with a notebook containing over 100 names and account numbers.
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According to Ogugua, the officers of the anti-corruption agency also recovered a notebook containing a list of voters’ names and account details from Mrs. Afolabi Adijat at Ward 5, Polling Unit 04 of Ansar-ud-deen Mosque area of Olorunda Local Government.
She noted that the agency’s officers, however, couldn’t arrest one Mrs. Afolabi Adijat due to the volatility of the area and insufficient armed personnel.
The ICPC spokesperson stated that operatives of the anti-graft agency also arrested one Mrs. Idowu-Yemi Omolere at Polling Unit 12, Ward 12 behind Dada Estate Police State in connection with the distribution of recharge cards to voters.
Ogugua noted that the ICPC personnel recovered 24 pieces of N500 recharge cards, a list of voters and their phone numbers as well as a techno phone, adding that one Garba Bahausa was arrested at the Bulunkutu Ward in Borno State for being in possession of four PVCs and the sum of N49,000.
She said the suspect distributed the money, food items, and 20 wrappers.
“In the course of his interrogation, Bahausa confessed that the money was given to him by a lawmaker to distribute to voters,” the ICPC spokesperson disclosed.
Ogugua revealed that a woman, Idara Umoren, was arrested in Akwa Ibom State for collating the names and account details of voters suspected to have voted for her preferred candidate.
She said Umoren was arrested at the Signature Hotel Polling Unit on Plot 48G Line, Ewet Housing Estate, Akwa Ibom.
She stated that the ICPC operatives also arrested two persons – Hassan Muhammad and Nafisa Sani – for vote buying at the Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto State.
“Hassan Muhammad was caught in possession of signed tickets which were given to voters that voted for his party.
“The ticket enabled the voters to be given women wrappers and bags of rice.
“Nafisa Sani was intercepted while giving wrappers to voters at a polling unit in Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto,” Ogugua revealed.
Speaking on the arrests, the ICPC Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, commended the officers of the anti-graft agency for diligently monitoring the presidential and National Assembly elections across the country and curtailing vote-buying by some representatives of political parties.
Owasanoye directed the State Offices of the agency to carry out a detailed investigation of all those arrested for acts of corruption during the elections on Saturday.
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