NewsNigeriaPoliticsINEC shortlists1,076 electoral offenders for prosecution

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About 1,076 persons who committed varying crimes during the 25 February and 18 March polls in Nigeria will be prosecuted, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, assured on Wednesday.

The electoral offenders were arrested across 35 states with Ebonyi having the highest number of cases.

Ebonyi has 64 cases involving 216 suspects and Edo is second with 22 cases and 80 suspects, while Anambra is third with 12 cases involving 66 suspects.

Kaduna State is fourth with 11 cases and 36 suspects and Adamawa ranks fifth with 10 cases and 17 suspects.

Also, Kano, Rivers and Osun states share the fifth position, with nine cases involving 74, 68 and 47 suspects, respectively.

Yobe has the least with just one case file implicating two suspects.

The suspects are standing trial for various crimes including snatching of ballot boxes and destroying electoral materials, possession of weapons, misconduct at polling stations and stealing of election results, among others.

The chief press secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi said 191 case files have been prepared for the prosecution and that 191 attorneys would work for INEC free of charge.

Oyekanmi, however, said the INEC dismissed 26 case files and would be transmitting the files to the police because the offences involved did not fall under the electoral offences as defined by the Electoral Act 2022.

“Besides, the suspects involved in 22 out of the cases are either at large or were never apprehended,” he added.

Oyekanmi also confirmed that letters of authority have already been prepared and will be issued to the legal team as soon as possible to commence proceedings on all the cases.

By Ezinwanne Onwuka (Senior Reporter)

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