Court Remands INEC Staff over Alleged N122m Diezani Bribe

Court Remands INEC Staff over Alleged N122m Diezani Bribe

Justice O. Efreti Abang of the Federal High Court, Asaba, Delta State has ordered that Fidelia Omoile, a serving Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s official in Isoko- South Local Government Area of Delta State, be remanded in prison custody following her arraignment on Monday, on a two- count amended charge, bordering on conspiracy and money laundering, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC).

Omoile allegedly collected the sum of N112,480,000.00 (One Hundred and Twelve Million, Four Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira), as a bribe during the countdown to the 2015 Presidential election. She was among the over 100 INEC Officials that allegedly collected part of the $115million disbursed by a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison- Madueke, during the countdown to the 2015 presidential election.

Omoile was arrested on 11 April 2016 following an intelligence received by the EFCC on the activities of some INEC Staff, who allegedly connived with some Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), in defrauding the Federal Government huge sums of money, running into millions of Naira. The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to her.

In view of her plea, prosecution counsel, Sadiq Hussaini, asked for a trial date and sued that the defendant is remanded in prison custody. However, counsel for the defendant, K. O Obamogie, made an oral application for bail of his client and urged the court to grant his prayers. Hussaini opposed his prayers. He adjourned the matter to 6 June 2017 for hearing and ordered the defendant to be remanded in prison custody pending the determination of her bail.