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Guber poll: 65 vote buyers land in EFCC net

Theophilus ADEDOKUN
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Guber poll: 65 vote buyers land in EFCC net

THE Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has apprehended over 65 persons for vote buying and inducement across 28 states during the governorship and state assembly elections.

A statement issued on Saturday, March 18, signed by the spokesperson of the Commission, Wilson Uwujaren, said that 13 suspects were nabbed by operatives on election monitoring duty at the Kaduna Zonal Command.

Also, the teams monitoring the polls in the Port Harcourt Zone arrested a total of 12 people for various offences bordering on inducing voters with money to vote for their preferred candidates.

The statement further disclosed that four vote buyers were arrested in Calabar.

Thirteen suspects, consisting of 10 males and 3 females, were arrested in Kaduna State.

The statement added, “They were apprehended by operatives working on intelligence or chanced upon them during the monitoring exercise. A suspect allegedly involved in vote buying was nabbed at School Road, Unguwan Rimi Kaduna. The suspect who initially resisted arrest, is however in custody, pending the conclusion of the investigation.”

EFCC operatives caught Buhari Muhammed in Polling Unit  002 Dogara Yaro Dagari area with voter coupons which he confessed would be used to trace and pay those who voted for his party.

The Commission also apprehended the women leader of a political party, Esther Edem, as well as Edet Etim and Asanwana Eyo, for alleged vote buying in Calabar.

According to the statement, “The Woman Leader, who had a list of suspected voters, their account numbers and thousands of Naira in cash, was apprehended inside an uncompleted building, beside her Ward in Calabar South, while Etim and Eyo were arrested at Ward 12, Unit 11, at Kings Memorial School by Inyang Street, Abasi Obori, Calabar South.

“The duo of Etim and Eyo had with them their own lists and money they allegedly used in buying votes.”

The Gombe Zonal Command of the Commission also recorded the arrests of 10 persons for alleged voter inducement.

The investigation by the EFCC, however, revealed that the mode of operation of the suspects was through cash, transfer of money, coupons and sending recharge cards to eligible voters in order to induce them to vote for their candidates.

The ICIR earlier reported that 20 persons were nabbed for vote-buying and financial inducement in Kwara State

APC member shot dead in Cross River

Beloved JOHN
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APC member shot dead in Cross River

A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was shot dead in Cross River state on Saturday March 18.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Cross River, Irene Ugbo, confirmed the incident.

The deceased, identified as Joe, was shot close to a polling unit on Saturday morning for reasons yet to be identified.

It was alleged that Joe was shot dead by a soldier in Ogoja local government for creating a rowdy scene at the yet-to-be identified polling centre.

Ugbo said the police command was still investigating the reason for his murder.

She has also assured residents of their safety across communities in the state.

Guber poll: IPC condemns attacks on journalists covering election

Mustapha USMAN
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Guber poll: IPC condemns attacks on journalists covering election

THE International Press Centre (IPC) has condemned attacks on journalists during the March 18 governorship and state assembly elections.

The Centre, in a statement released via its twitter page, said the attacks took place in some parts of the country, including Lagos, Ogun, and Rivers states.

IPC said the attacks constitute a violation of the fundamental rights of the affected journalists.

According to the Centre Journalists’ Election Day Safety Desk, AIT reporters and cameramen including Henrietta Oke, Amarachi Amushie and Nkiru Nwokedi were molested and prevented from covering the elections at some polling units in Eti-Osa, Ifako-Ijaiye and Amuwo Odofin local government areas of Lagos State by political thugs and hoodlums.

The statement added that the molested journalist Nwokedi temporarily lost her phone before it was recovered with the help of Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) men.

IPC stressed that Amushie was also rough handled, and his camera was damaged while the cameraman was beaten in the presence of a political chieftain.

Arise TV News crew comprising reporter Oba Adeoye, cameraman Opeyemi Adenihun and driver Yusuf Hassan were also attacked while covering election process in the Elegushi area of Lagos, according to the statement.

“The cameraman, Opeyemi Adenihun, suffered facial injuries while drones and equipment were seized” according to the news medium.

It stressed that the News Agency of Nigeria’s reporter Adejoke Adeleye was among journalists who were molested in Itori Odo Area,  Abeokuta South Local government of Ogun state.

The political thugs equally reportedly assaulted INEC officials with axes and allegedly destroyed ballot boxes.

IPC also detailed how journalists who tried to capture voting in the polling unit of the PDP Governorship candidate in Rivers State were denied access by some “overzealous police officers”.

“The policemen refused passage despite the proof of identity provided by the journalists” the report from Rivers stated.

“Following the attacks on journalists during the presidential and National Assembly elections on February 25, we had called on the Police, the Political Parties and all concerned to take measures to protect them today. It is therefore worrisome that such attacks have been repeated”, the Press Freedom and Safety Alert Desk Officer of IPC, Melody Lawal added. 

Lawal further charged the security agencies to thoroughly investigate the various attacks and ensure that the perpetrators face the consequences of their illegal actions.

Increased vote buying, bribery in election — YIAGA Africa

Beloved JOHN
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Increased vote buying, bribery in election — YIAGA Africa

THERE was an increase in vote buying in the March 18 governorship and state assembly election, according to YIAGA Africa.

The non-profit civic hub said vote-buying was higher in state elections compared to what was applicable in the presidential election.

YIAGA said this during a press briefing in Abuja on Saturday, March 18.

According to Ezenwa Nwagwu, a YIAGA Africa board member, Party agents bribed voters using various items.

Party agents were found sharing cash, wrappers, food items, and alcoholic drinks.

Nwagwu said YIAGA observers “confirmed reports of vote buying across eight states.”

“In Sarkin Mudu Polling Unit (016) in Giade LGA of Bauchi, PDP agents have been sighted bribing accredited voters with a thousand naira, a wrapper and a pack of spaghetti each. The voters hand over their ballot papers to party agents for a bribe. A similar report was received from PU 006 Rangan Ward, Warji LGAof Bauchi, on distributing wrappers, two thousand naira and a pack of spaghetti to voters.

“Party agents for the APC and PDP party are reported to have shared food, cash and alcoholic drinks with some voters. This happened in Apir market square 1, Makurdi, Benue state. In PU O6 Ward 05 Isoko North, Delta State, INEC officials for the polling unit received a cash gift from the APC party agent present,” he said.

He noted that the election was also characterised by harassment of voters, destruction of electoral materials, and accreditation of voters without the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

He charged INEC to work towards winning the electorate’s trust with the March 18 election.

Rhodes-Vivour got two votes, Sanwo-Olu secures 121 in governor’s polling unit

Marcus FATUNMOLE
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Rhodes-Vivour got two votes, Sanwo-Olu secures 121 in governor’s polling unit

LAGOS State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu today won in his polling unit, defeating his closest rival with 121 to two votes in the governorship election.

Other political parties, namely the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), scored one; African Development Congress (ADC) got one; and Accord Party secured a vote.

Sanwo-Olu voted at his polling unit 006, St Stephen Adeniji Adele, Lagos Island, near his family house.

The ICIR reporter noted that security officers, including the police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and Immigration, were fewer at polling units in Lagos Island than in other locations the reporter visited during the exercise.

However, there were no complaints from any of the party agents the reporter met at over a dozen polling units he visited in the area. The ICIR also observed the area was very peaceful during the exercise, with many youth playing different games on the empty roads.

Some of the polling units (PU) are 004, Anikantamo Ward 003, Odunifa Ore, 023 Idumagbo Aremu, In Front 45, and Idumagbo, all in Adeniji Adele; and PU 005 Ilupesin Idumagbo Ojogiwa, 022 and 017 Ilupesin, Idumagbo, PU 004, Ward C3, and Isale Gangan (also known as Ward 9).

At PU 007, Stephen’s Adeniji Adele, near Governor Sanwo-Olu’s polling unit, the APC got 106 votes, LP had four, PDP won 3, and Young Progressives Party (YPP) secured three votes.

 

Soldiers manhandle House of Reps member in Benue

Sinafi OMANGA
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Soldiers manhandle House of Reps member in Benue

A FEDERAL lawmaker from Benue State, Kpam Jimin Sokpo has been beaten to stupor by suspected military officers at a hotel in the Gboko Local Government Area of the state.

Sokpo, who represents Buruku Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, said he “was attacked for no reason”.

Speaking to journalists, the lawmaker said he was with a group of friends around 2:30 am when “about five trucks filled with 60 soldiers alighted from their vehicles” at the spot they were sitting.

Sokpo said upon their arrival, he got up “to do something” when one of the soldiers confronted him, and asked why he was walking “in the manner” he did.

He added: “As I was talking he slapped me in the face. I asked why he did that, and I introduced myself as a House of Representatives member. I told him he did not know me and just slapped me in the face?

“Before I knew what was happening more than 30 of them just pounced on me using the butt of their guns to injure me. Some of the guns they used on me even broke into pieces. As I speak with you I have stitches on my face, on my head and I have all kinds of injuries on my body.

“While this was going on, their Commanding Officer came in and calmed the situation a bit. Shortly after they went on to harass me and collected everything in my car including every piece of paper.

“In fact, the one who started assaulting me threatened that he could even kill me. Unfortunately, I did not get their names because they removed their name tags before assaulting me.

“Believe me, I do not know why they did this to me. I have gone to the hospital to stitch the cuts and treat myself, but I have reported the matter to the Police and the Security Adviser to the Governor of Benue State.”

However, spokesperson of the police in Benue State, Catherine Anene said the Benue State Police Command is not aware of the incident.

“Our officers are still in the field for the elections. We are yet to receive such reports,” she said.

Sokpo sought reelection to the National Assembly under the platform of the Labour Party (LP) but lost to Sekav Iortyom of the All progressives Congress (APC).

INEC postpones election in 10 polling units at VGC Lagos to Mar 19

Marcus FATUNMOLE
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INEC postpones election in 10 polling units at VGC Lagos to Mar 19

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has postponed the governorship and House of Assembly elections in 10 polling units at the Victoria Garden City (VGC), Lagos State, till tomorrow,  Sunday, March 19.

Eight polling units are within the VGC, while two are in its commercial area.

There were disagreements in the morning after the INEC ad-hoc staff refused to enter the estate.

According to them, they were held hostage during the last presidential election, which took place on February 25.

They chose to conduct the poll at the estate’s gate, but the residents expressed fear thugs might disrupt the exercise.

Briefing journalists, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Segun Agbaje, stated, “We have eight polling units here with 6,024 registered voters, out of which 5,624 people have their PVCs.

“After due consultation and further directive from the national headquarters that we should remobilise here tomorrow (Sunday) morning by 08:30am to conduct the elections, by 08:30am tomorrow (Sunday), we will reconvene here.”

During the February election, the Labour Party presidential candidate won in the estate and the entire Lagos State.

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The major candidates seeking the Alausa, Ikeja, governor’s seat are the incumbent Babajide Sanwo-Olu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour of the Labour Party (LP), and AbdulAzeez Adediran of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The ICIR reports that there are 4,861 polling units in the state, the highest in the country.

The ICIR had reported earlier how Governor Sanwo-Olu defeated the LP candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes Vivour, in his (Gbadebo’s) polling unit.

The governor as well trounced the LP candidate in his (Sanwo-Olu’s) ward, scooping 121 votes against Vivour’s two.

 

N180bn unclaimed dividends unsettle NGX, as Exchange holds awareness talkshop

Ehime ALEX
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N180bn unclaimed dividends unsettle NGX, as Exchange holds awareness talkshop

THE about N180 billion unclaimed dividends resting in the Unclaimed Dividends Trust Fund being managed by the Debt Management Office (DMO) has remained a concern for the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX).

The NGX expressed the concern at a retail investors webinar it organised in collaboration with Futureview Asset Management Limited on Friday, March 17.

Themed, ‘How to Process Outstanding Dividend’, the webinar sought to promote financial literacy by providing participants with ways to process outstanding dividends and a step-by-step procedure for retrieving unclaimed dividends.

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“This webinar is to educate the retail segment of our market towards the seemingly unended cases of unclaimed dividends,” the chief executive officer (CEO) of NGX, Temi Popoola, said.

Popoola explained that some retail investors remained unaware of the backlog of unclaimed dividends that have accrued to them over many years,  especially those investors with legacy investment held on their behalf and to be bequeathed as investment by patrimony or inheritance.

“According to the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), unclaimed dividends in our market have increased steadily, having printed at N180 billion as at December 2022,” Popoola noted.

According to him, it is the aim of the apex regulator to bring this amount processed to zero, so that all investors can get their returns on investment and, possibly, reinvest in the market, and thereby improve liquidity.

The chief executive of Futureview Asset Management Limited, Elizabeth Ebi, disclosed that unclaimed dividends, which rose as high as about N2 billion as at 1999, had “astronomically” swelled to about N180 billion.

Ebi explained dividends to be the shares or profits and retained earnings a company distributes to its shareholders, which usually is done when profits are declared at the end of a financial year.

“But the shareholders or investors failed to claim them over a period of time, which then become unclaimed dividends usually after six months and up to 12 years,” she said.

She highlighted some underlying issues causing unclaimed dividends to include lack of awareness by investors, multiple subscriptions for offers, inaccurate information, or issues of identity management.

At an interactive session with journalists in May 2022, the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Lamido Yuguda, had blamed the rising number of unclaimed dividends on investors’ failure to mandate their accounts, as dividends are now paid electronically.

An investment and portfolio analyst, Abel Ezekiel, told The ICIR that unclaimed dividends might have kept rising as some investors were yet to perfect the e-mandate requirements, but lamented that with the new digital means, “it, therefore, followed that claiming dividends has become rigorous and challenging for investors.”

Guber poll: EFCC arrests 20 for vote buying in Kwara

Theophilus ADEDOKUN
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Guber poll: EFCC arrests 20 for vote buying in Kwara

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has apprehended 20 persons suspected of involvement in vote buying in Kwara State.

The Commission that the suspects were arrested on Saturday, March 18 in Irepodun, Ilorin West and Ilorin South local government areas of the state during the governorship and state assembly elections.

Parading the suspects, the Acting Commander of the Ilorin Zonal Office of the EFCC, Michael Nzekwe, said the Commission acted on credible intelligence to carry out the operation.

Nzekwe said, “Majority of the people arrested were directly involved in vote-buying. We got credible intelligence and we acted on it. Some of the arrests were made in Omu-Aran, Ilorin South and Ilorin West. We were all over the 16 local government areas.”

Nzekwe added that huge amounts of cash and point of sales (POS) machines were recovered from the suspects.

He stressed that the suspects are currently under investigation.

“After the investigation, we will strictly follow the provisions of the law,” he added.

NPA to investigate extortion at Lagos ports corridor after The ICIR investigation

Nurudeen AKEWUSHOLA
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NPA to investigate extortion at Lagos ports corridor after The ICIR investigation

FOLLOWING The ICIR investigation into widespread extortion and touting at the Apapa and Tin Can ports corridor, the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) has promised to investigate and address the problem.

The development was disclosed on Friday, March 17, by the NPA Managing Director, Mohammed Bello Koko, a day after the second part of the investigation was published.

The ICIR had published the two parts on March 15 and March 16, on how the uncontrolled extortion and touting had claimed the lives of innocent citizens and impeded the efficiency of the electronic call-up system meant to solve the problem of port congestion.

Reacting to the report, Koko thanked The ICIR for the report and assured that the matter would be jointly investigated by the NPA and the Lagos State government.

“Thank you, [ICIR], for your investigative report and footage. I assure you this will be brought to a logical conclusion by my team @nigerianports and @followslag,” Koko tweeted in response to The ICIR post on Twitter.

After the investigation, numerous individuals shared their harrowing experiences with extortionists who operate along the Lagos ports corridor, highlighting the severity of the situation.

For instance, a Twitter user, @Mich12645298, narrated how his haulage business was ruined by the indiscriminate extortion by the marauding hoodlums.

 

 

“Something that ruin my haulage business. touts, Lastma, trace & police collect all my savings, profits & operating expenses, I have 2 trucks, I sold one off when I couldn’t repair it continuously & I have to face another thing, I packed the second, bad country, too much extortion.”

 

Another Twitter user, @EmmaChi06083385

“It’s treble.  From Apapa to Alaba, 1x40ft container pays around one hundred and fifty thousand naira and above to tout so they can allow the container to offload at Importer’s warehouse.”

A Facebook user,  Ubong Joseph, commented as thus :
“The extortion within this corridor is just so bad. Going to clear cars from Apapa is becoming so stressful as a result of this multiple taxation. Even at night when you think things will be relax is when it’s even worse.”
The first part of the full investigation can be read here and the second part can be read here.
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