How INEC Employees Got N264m In $155m Alison-Madueke’s Bribery Scam
The Federal High Court in Lagos was on Wednesday told how two Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) employees, Christian Nwosu and Yisa Adegoyin, allegedly received N264million from former Petroleum Minister Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke to rig the 2015 general election results.
The information was part of the testimony of an Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness, Timothy Olaobaju in the going trial of the two INEC employees over allegations of conspiracy and fraud.
They however pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The witness told the trial judge Justices Mohammad Idris the money was paid to Nwosu and Adedoyin in cash.
Olaobaju, who was being led in evidence by prosecution counsel Rotimi Oyedepo
The witness, who was his bank’s head of operations in Illorin, Kwara State capital, said he paid Nwosu and Adedoyin the cash based on Mrs. Alison-Madueke’s instructions.
He also told the court that, “I was the Head of Operations for Ilorin Branch. I had cause to meet Nwosu and Adedoyin. Sometime in 2015, there was a meeting between our Managing Director and former Petroleum Minister during which she explained that some companies and individuals would come to the bank to pay some money into some accounts.
“The companies were Northern Belt Ltd, Actus Integrated Ltd, Midwestern Company and one Mr. Leno Laitan. In addition, she said certain individuals would bring some cash to be kept for her.
“A total sum of $89million was paid into the accounts. Cash sums of $25million was brought, totaling $114million. The money was kept in the bank pending her instruction as agreed.
“On March 26, 2014, we got instruction that the money be converted to naira. After it was converted, it was about N23billion. There was a list of beneficiaries that was sent, to be paid across the 36 states of the federation, including Kwara. I handled the transactions in my branch,” Olaobaju claimed.
He further said the defendants came to his office to collect the cash payment, and that he only acted on instruction.
“There was an instruction that Nwosu and Adedoyin be paid N264,880,000. The instruction came from the head office based on instruction from Mrs. Alison-Madueke and they were paid. They signed a receipt of payment for the money they collected,” Olaobaju said.
The witness said after the defendants were paid, they left with the cash and did not pay it into any account.
The witness said under cross examination by defence Obinna Okereke and Nelson Imoh that he did not know the purpose of the payment.
“The only instruction we had is that they should bring means of identification and should be paid. They even waited for the money to be released to them. We did not know the purpose of the payment,” he said.
Justice Idris adjourned till today for continuation of trial.
