The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has arraigned the Administrative Secretary of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Gombe State, Tarkumbur Gregory, and two retired employees of INEC, Yunusa Ali Biri and Bunu Mulima, before Justice Abubakar Jauro of the Gombe State High Court on three counts bordering on alleged receipt of gratification to the tune of N138m to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential elections.
The money was said to be part of the N23bn bribe allegedly disbursed by the then Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke ahead of the 2015 presidential election.
The EFCC said in a statement by its Spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, that the offence was committed between March and May, 2015, in contravention of Section 9 (1) (2) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges read them. In view of their plea, prosecution counsel, Abubakar Aliyu, urged the court to fix a date for trial.
While adjourning the case till November 1, 2017 for hearing, Justice Jauro admitted the accused persons to bail on the terms of the administrative bail earlier granted them by the commission.
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