Our reporter| The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday said its operatives intercepted N32.4 million new notes suspected to be used for vote buying in Lagos.
The anti-graft agency in a tweet, said officials also arrested a suspect who has been taken into custody for questioning.
“The massive operation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to deter vote trading and other financial malfeasance ahead of tomorrow’s presidential and national assembly elections may have begun paying dividends with the interception in Lagos of the sum of N32,400,000 allegedly suspected to be used for vote buying in Lagos,” the statement read.
“The recovery was made by operatives of the Lagos Zonal Command of the Commission. The suspect involved has been taken into custody for further questioning.”
On his part, EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa charged officials of the anti-graft agency deployed for election monitoring duties to show courage.
Bawa also asked them not to give room for unscrupulous persons to undermine the integrity of the elections through financial inducement.
“Tactical teams of operatives are currently on the ground in all the states of the federation and the FCT. Telephone hotlines have already been circulated through social media for members of the public to share information regarding financial malpractices with agents of the Commission.
“Members of the public are encouraged to report anyone trying to buy or sell votes by making use of the EFCC financial crimes reporting App, Eagle Eye, which is available for download on the Google Play or Apple store,” the statement added.
Earlier, security operatives arrested a federal lawmaker, Dr. Chinyere Igwe, with $498,100 on suspicion of attempted vote buying and money laundering.
The lawmaker who represents Port Harcourt Federal Constituency 2 in the House of Representatives was arrested along Aba Road in the state capital on Thursday.
These incidents come amid a scarcity of the new naira notes, subjecting millions of Nigerians to hardship. The situation also triggered protests in some states with aggrieved citizens barricading major roads to register their displeasure.
Terrorists, Bandits, IPOB remain a challenge – IGP
Meanwhile, hours before the 2023 presidential election, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba has said that activities of terrorists, bandits, and members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN) remain a challenge.
“Activities of bandits, terrorists, and secessionists and self-actualisation elements popularly known as IPOB or ESN still remain a challenge,” the IGP said at a media briefing on Friday in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
He also said political thuggery as well as intra and inter-party crises pose a challenge to the February 25, 2023 poll.
He also said continuous attacks on facilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by “subversive and anti-democratic elements” still remain a challenge.
Baba said no quasi-security organisation like Amotekun Corps in the South-West, Ebubeagu in the South-East or the Benue Guards will be allowed to participate in Saturday’s poll.
“However, I have issued directive that no quasi-security organisation is to be involved in policing the political process,” the IGP stated.
He also stressed the commitment of the police to ensure free and fair polls, noting that the 425,106 security operatives have been deployed for the presidential and National Assembly election slated for Saturday.
Enumerating the challenges before the police ahead of the general elections, Baba said, “Much as the Nigerian Police has perfected plans to engender a peaceful electoral process, the following have been identified as possible challenges.
“They are with us, and we will continue to manage it. For us to manage these challenges, we have upscaled our operations and therefore believe that we have conditioned the atmosphere more than before.
“In other words, our analysis of the crime situation in Nigeria has dropped drastically compared to what we have recorded as crime and criminality in the last one month.”
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