EFCC probes INEC over N13bn ballot paper contracts •Bomb scare at INEC office in Bayelsa

Posted by admin EFCC Politics, INEC Politics Tuesday, April 12th, 2011

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced a probe into activities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the N13 billion contracts awarded for the printing of ballot papers for the general election.

There were initial speculations about the origin of the probe, but a petition obtained by the Nigerian Tribune, written by Abuja-based Electoral Integrity Group, dated April 7, 2011, might have informed the probe.

While a source said that some anonymous petitions might have prompted the probe, another source said that the probe was actually originated by the leadership of INEC in trying to exonerate its chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, of any wrongdoing in the award of the contract.

The petition to EFCC on the ballot paper contract, signed by Alhaji Sani Yakubu, asked the commission to probe the award of the contract and the failure of the contractors to deliver the materials ahead of the initial April 2 National Assembly election date.

The petition indicated that there was a deal by the contractors.

The petition reads in part: “The deal here was that when they secure these works, part of the money would be used clandestinely to fund a particular political party that has a vibrant head but lacks resources to carry on its campaign.”

Consequently, there were bickerings on “percentage of funding” which some of them thought was high but subsequently paid, though reluctantly.

“This, we believe, impacted negatively on the execution of these jobs thus leading to the late arrival of materials and outright rejection of offers midway into execution.”

The group asked the INEC chairman to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged diversion of funds, its link to the botched April 2 election and name the political party said to have been the beneficiary. It also called for the prosecution of those involved.

A source, however, said INEC authorities had, also last week, referred the issue of ballot paper printing to the EFCC for investigation.

It was gathered that the anti-graft agency was trying to ascertain whether it was true that the six companies that got the N13 billion job were being promoted by some highly placed government officials and or loyalists of a particular political party.

The six companies are VI Solutions, allegedly being promoted by Alhaji Yahaya Sani; a German/Polish firm, SanFrano, which has Alhaji Sanni Musa as its alleged backer; Graphic Inline (Gi), with Alhaji Sanni Lamido as its alleged promoter; a Spanish company, Tip3, being allegedly promoted by Alhaji Hashim Dikko; Aero-vote being allegedly promoted by Alhaji Yerima and Kalamazoo, said to be sponsored by Dick Jackson, who holds a Nigerian-British dual citizenship and is married to a woman from Kano State.

It was confirmed that the investigation started last week and that the EFCC had uncovered some relevant documents.

“The EFCC was said to have gathered relevant information on the companies. Shortly they would start inviting their executives for interrogation any time this week,” a source said.

When contacted on Monday, spokesman for the EFCC, Mr Femi Babafemi, would neither confirm nor deny the development. He said he needed some time to clarify from the chairman of the commission, Mrs Farida Waziri.

Meanwhile, there was a bomb scare at the INEC office, on the Road Safety road, Yenagoa, in Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State on Monday.

This forced the workers and the people around the premises to scamper for safety.

The incident, which occurred around 12.00 noon, forced people to run for safety because of the devastating effect of bomb blast.

Journalists, who were on updating Saturday’s National Assembly election results were at the initial stage reluctant, but later joined fleeing workers, as the presence and assurance given by the security operatives were not enough to deter people from running for their dear lives.

Disturbed by the development, the security operatives later took charge of the situation, assuring the people of the security of their life and property.

Normalcy later returned to the area, as people later discovered that it was a mere rumour.

-Tribunewp_posts