EFCC recovers N65.5m from Zamfara INEC Office

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday October 9, recovered N65,548, 000 (Sixty-five Million, Five Hundred and Forty-eight Thousand Naira) from the Independent and National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Zamfara state, following its investigation over an alleged non-payment of ad hoc staff that conducted the 2019 general election.

The money which was in a higher denomination was discovered during EFCC's search of the two fire proof safe in the offices of the head of Accounts and Cashier of INEC in the state.

EFCC recovered the money from INEC's office in Zamfara state, following a petition in which the electoral commission's ad hoc staff alleged that they were paid the sum of N9,000 unlike their colleagues who were paid N12,000 in other states including Sokoto.

EFCC's statement reads in full; 

EFCC Recovers N65.5million in Zamfara INEC Office Operatives of Sokoto zonal office on today recovered money to the tune of N65,548,000 only. The money which comprises  81 bundle of N1000 notes, 97 bundle of N500 notes and 96 pieces of N500 notes.

The monies were stacked in two fire proof safes during a search conducted in offices of the HOD Accounts and Cashier of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Zamfara state.

The money is suspected to be 40% illegally deducted on funds released to INEC Zamfara office to cater for the rent of Canopies, Tables and Chairs and also funds for RAC (Registration Area Center) and movement of men and materials to Polling Units, by the HOD Accounts & Cashier.

The raid followed a petition by one of the INEC ad-hoc staff during the 2019 presidential and gubernatorial elections in Zamfara State. The staff alleged that the Adhoc INEC officials were denied payment of their N6,000 movement allowances each for the two elections.

The suspects would be arraigned in court as soon as investigation is completed.

This is coming after four INEC officials in the state, Hassan Aliyu, Administrative Secretary; Hussain Jafar, Head of Operations; Abdullahi Abubakar; State Accountant and the Cashier Labaran Ishaka were arrested by the anti-graft agency over an alleged conspiracy, breach of trust and criminal diversion of ad-hoc staff allowance to the tune of N84,696,000 (Eighty Four Million, Six Hundred and Ninety Six Thousand Naira)