2 INEC officials, PDP chief re-arraigned over alleged N179.8m fraud

By Peter Fowoyo

Two officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Dickson Atiba and Ogunmodede Oladayo were on Monday re – arraigned before a Federal High Court, Lagos over alleged N179.8 million fraud.

The two INEC officials were re arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Yemi Akinwonmi.

The three defendants were first arraigned before Justice Sule Hassan, on July 30, 2018, during the court’s annual vacation while they were granted bail by Justice Chuka Austine Obiozor on August 7, 2018, after arguing their bail applications while the matter was re-assigned to Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke after the vacation.

Midway to the trial of the defendants, Justice Aneke withdrew from hearing the matter following an application made to the court by the defence, consequently, the matter was re-assigned to Justice Obiozor.

At the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, EFCC’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court about the re- arraignment of the trio and urged the court to allow the charge to be read to them for their plea to be taken.

However, the defendants’ lead counsel, Edward Ayo-Odugbesan, informed the court that the plea of the defendants had been taken before the court and the court had also admitted them to bail. 

Odugbesan also informed the court of his clients pending applications, one challenging the court’s jurisdiction and the second for quashing of the charge and urged the court to hear the two applications before taken the plea of his clients.

But, Justice Obiozor reminded the defendants’ counsel that what his court only did in the matter was hearing and determined the bail applications as the defendants’ pleas were taken before Justice Hassan.

Justice Obiozor therefore, ordered that the charge be read to the defendants to take their plea. Following the judge’s order, the eight -count charge was read to the defendants and they all pleaded not guilty.

Odugbesan urged the court to let his clients to continue with the earlier bail granted them and his request was granted.

After the granting of the defendants bail, Odugbesan urged the court to hear his clients’ two applications because the two applications have been served on the prosecution while the prosecution has replied to only one.

However, the prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo, told the court that his agency had replied to the two applications and same had been served on the defendants

After arguments from counsels, Justice Obiozor adjourned the matter till May 27.