Prosecute Yobe REC over alleged N15m bribe, Fayose tells Buhari

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, yesterday challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to prosecute the Yobe State Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Abu Zarma, who was alleged to have received N15 million bribe to influence the Yobe State governorship election.

The governor said it is only when that is done that the President’s fight against corruption can enjoy the needed credibility, adding that; “If nothing is done on a case as clear as that of the INEC REC, Nigerians can as well kiss President Buhari anti-corruption fight goodbye.”

In a release issued by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, in Ado-Ekiti, Fayose said it was worrisome that despite that details of the two bank accounts of the REC, which showed that N15 million was lodged into his accounts few days to the April 11 election, was admitted as evidence by the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal in the state, the REC had not been charged to court.

He said: “It is on record that two officials of Diamond Bank Plc and Zenith Bank Plc, tendered exhibits confirming the payment of N15 million into the REC’s accounts by the Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to Yobe State Governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Zakari Deba.

“The ADC allegedly paid N8 million into the Diamond Bank account of the INEC REC and N7 million into his Zenith Bank accounts on April 8, 2015, three days before the governorship election. As at the time the N8 million was paid into the Diamond Bank account, only N28, 000 was in the account.

“Why then is the Yobe INEC REC not being tried yet? Why has he not been charged to court?