Yemi Adedeji, Abuja
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the duo of Gilbert Okorocha, an Administrative Officer with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Anambra State and Oscar Lee Amaechi, an Administrative Secretary of INEC, before Justice I. B. Gafai of the Federal High Court Awka.
The Enugu Zonal office of the anti-graft agency arraigned the two INEC officials on a five count charge of conspiracy and money laundering to the tune of N210 million Naira.
But the accused persons pleaded not guilty on all the counts preferred against them by the Commission.
The accused persons allegedly received funds from the Director of Finance, Goodluck Jonathan Presidential Campaign Organisation, Senator Nenadi Usman purportedly on the instruction of some chieftains of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, which were distributed to electoral officers in the 21 local governments of the State with the aim of influencing the outcome of the 2015 general elections.
Their offences were contrary to the provisions of Section 1(a) and 16(1)(d) of Money Laundering (Prohibition) ACT,2011 as amended 2012 and punishable under section 16 (2) (b) of same Act.
After their plea, the defence counsel, Williams Omogua and E.O Akataka applied for bail of the accused persons on the grounds that the offence was bailable.
The presiding judge however granted the defendants bail with two sureties each in like sum. Sureties, he ruled, must be civil servants under the state government service not below grade level 10.
The case was adjourned to June 29, 2018, for the commencement of trial.