THE Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has intercepted and arrested party officials caught with huge cash at polling units in Benue and Kwara state.
In Benue, a party agent, who is allegedly working with the Benue State governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Emmanuel Jimeh was intercepted with the cash load.
The incident happened at the North Bank Area of Makurdi, as people moved out to cast their votes for the governorship and state assembly poll.
According to the EFCC, efforts to arrest the culprit failed when hoodlums attacked its operatives.
“At the North Bank Area, Makurdi, a man was caught with large bags containing lots of money. While trying to arrest him, officers of the Commission were attacked and vehicles vandalised. Information gathered confirms that the money belongs to Emmanuel Jimeh, the gubernatorial candidate of the APC in Benue state,” it stated in a Facebook post.
On its verified twitter handle, it added that the thugs also vandalised the bus used for election patrol in the state.
#Polls At North Bank Area, Makurdi, Benue State, EFCC operatives intercept bags of cash meant for vote-buying. In an attempt to arrest the culprit, some thugs attacked operatives and vandalised the bus used for patrol. #SayNoToVoteBuying pic.twitter.com/LhalUk2RZq
— EFCC Nigeria (@officialEFCC) March 9, 2019
In Kwara, at the agency’s Ilorin Zonal office, a man identified as Abdulkareem Abdulsalem was arrested for inducing voters with money at Polling Unit 7, Kwara State College of Education.
The anti-graft agency earlier had embarked on sensitisation campaign to discourage vote-buying.
At the Ibadan Zonal Office, the team, led by Friday Ebelo, Head of Ibadan Zonal office visited strategic locations in the state such as Dugbe, Molete, Agodi-Gate, Oluyole among others.
Olugbenga heads the Investigations Desk at The ICIR. Do you have a scoop? Shoot him an email at [email protected]. Twitter Handle: @OluAdanikin