TWO officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been sent to prison after being convicted for taking bribe to compromise 2015 general elections.

A Federal High Court in Yola, Adamawa’s State capital, sent Ibrahim Mohammed Umar and Sahabo Iya Hamman to 42 years in jail in a case brought against them and former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The EFCC said the convicted INEC officials had conspired to defraud the Federal Government with the intent to compromise the 2015 general elections.

While ruling, Justice Nathan Musa  stated that Umar and Hamman received N362 million from Madueke to compromise the 2015 presidential poll in Adamawa State.

He sentenced each of them to 21 years of imprisonment for the three counts charge brought against them. They were to serve seven years each on the three counts.

But the judge said he would give a lenient sentence as he described the accused as “first-term offenders”.

“However in view of plea to temper justice with mercy, I will allow the sentence to run concurrently,” he said. It means each of the staff will spend only seven years in prison.

“The offence has a mandatory provision. I’m constrained by the law. They shall be sentenced to seven years imprisonment without the option of fine,” the judge added.

The court also ordered  Mohammed Adamu, Inspector General of Police and the International Police to produce former Petroleum Minister, Madueke to face prosecution over sending the N362 million to the two convicted INEC staff.

Musa said the court has established after due diligence that there was a conspiracy between the persons.