DSS Arraigns Two INEC Official In Rivers State For Selling PVCs
The Department of State Services (DSS), yesterday, January 7th, arraigned two Staff of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) identified to be Monday Ifiesimama and Beesor Sorle respectively before a Chief Magistrate Court in Port Harcourt for an alleged offence that concerns electoral process.
Darlington Ogolo was also known to have been arraigned alongside the 2 INEC staffs.
Both of the suspects, Ifiesimama and Sorle were accused of attempting to steal 3,097 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and selling them to Ogolo, whose identity was still under investigation at the time of filing this report.
For Ogolo, he was accused of bribing the 2 INEC staffs with the sum of N300,000 and N120,000 respectively as payment for the PVCs.
Both Ifiesimama and Sorle are facing eight counts charge of conspiracy, bribery, theft and fraud in suit number PHC/313C/19.
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Mr Calistus Eze who led the Prosecuting Counsel stated that the accused persons allegedly committed the offences between May and August 2018.
Eze said that their actions contravened Sections 98 (4) (1) and Section (A) (1) of the Criminal Code Law of Rivers state. He further stated that the offence also violated Section 120 (1) (d) and Section 117 (1) (e) of the Electoral Act 2010.
The magistrate further adjoined the matter until Feb. 20, for hearing.
In some related development, the DSS arraigned a man identified as Philemon Lawrence, 25, who allegedly impersonated an INEC official.
The DSS alleged that the accused person identified as Philemon Lawrence collected N3, 800 each from members of the public after advertising his bank account online.
Lawrence was then handed a three counts charge bordering on conspiracy, impersonation and fraud respectively.
The chief magistrate of the High court further adjourned the case until Feb. 19, for further hearing.
