INEC Officers Received N264m From Diezani Allison-Madueke?

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday, heard that two INEC employees, Christian Nwosu and Yisa Adedoyin, allegedly received N264million from a former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Allison-Madueke.

A prosecution witness, Mr Timothy Olaobaju, said that the money was paid to Nwosu and Adedoyin in cash.

Olaobaju said this while testifying at the resumed trial of the accused persons, facing charges of corruption and undue enrichment.

They are charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on allegations of receiving bribe from the former minister.

Also charged is Tijani Bashir.

Adedoyin had pleaded guilty to the charge and was convicted following a plea bargain.

Led in evidence on Wednesday by the prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, the witness, a bank operative, said that he paid Nwosu and Adedoyin the sum of N264 million, on the instructions of Alison-Madueke.

“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 Nothern Belt Ltd, Actus Integrated Ltd, Midwestern Company and one Mr Leno Laitan.

“In addition, she said that certain individuals would bring some cash to be kept for her.

“A total sum of 89 million dollars was paid into the accounts; cash sums of 25 million dollars was brought, totalling 114 million dollars and 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 amounted to about N23 billion.

‘’There was a list of beneficiaries that was sent, to be paid across the 36 states of the federation, including Kwara and I handled the transactions in my branch,” the witness said.