A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday heard that two staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) kept N100 million from the N264.8 million they allegedly received from former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to rig the 2015 polls.
An operative of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Usman Zakari, made the disclosure at the resumed trial of INEC officials – Christian Nwosu, Yisa Adedoyin and Tijani Bashir.
The defendants were accused by the EFCC of receiving gratification from the former minister and were arraigned for corruption and undue enrichment.
According to the commission, the offences contravene sections 15(3), 16(2) and 18(a) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Amendment Act, 2012 and punishable under same.
Adedoyin pleaded guilty and was convicted following a plea bargain.
Led in evidence on Thursday by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, Zakari testified before Justice Mohammed Idris that Nwosu got N30 million and Adedoyin got N70 million gratification.
The witness said sometime in 2016, the commission received intelligence that some firms had paid Allison-Madueke $115 million to influence the 2015 elections.
The receipts of payment of the $115m, Zakari said, were discovered after investigation.
According to him, it was discovered that the first defendant (Nwosu), who was the Administrator of INEC in Kwara State at the time, signed for a payment of N264.8m, while the receipt also had Adedoyin’s signature.
The witness said it was based on the receipts of payment that the defendants were invited to the commission.