The Governorship aspirant for the All Progressives Congress (APC) may soon be prosecuted over money laundering and vote buying allegations.
This is subsequent to an application of writ of mandamus directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest and prosecute the governorship candidate and his driver over money laundering and electoral offences.
The suit which is filed at the Federal High court by Bar. T.D Sorkaa on behalf of his client, Ati Terkula, the EFCC had on the 9th of March 2019, apprehended one Joseph Mannaseh with Millions of Naira in a vehicle belonging to Barr. Emmanuel Jime for the purpose of vote buying and inducement of voters.
“during the conduct of the election, the 1st and 2nd respondents were apprehended by men of the 4th respondents with MILLIONS OF NAIRA in bags inside the boot of a vehicle belonging to the 1st respondents and driven by the 2nd respondent which money was used to buy votes and induce voters against the interest of the applicant on the day of elections”. The petition read in part
The application further claims that, Jime and Mannaseh had committed criminal offences prohibited by the Money Laundering Act and Electoral Act, 2011 (as amended)
The case mandating the prosecution of Jime further accuses the EFCC and INEC of neglecting their public duty by failing to prosecute the duo.
It could be recalled that on the day of the governorship primaries the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, had claimed it arrested the governorship candidate of the APC, Bar. Emmanuel Jime with huge sums of money in his vehicle. It was further gathered that the opperatives were unable to effect arrest or seizure of the money as the candidate had mobilized armed thugs who attacked the EFCC and even destroyed a bus used for the operation.
Meanwhile a quick visit to the EFCC social media handle shows that the Commission may have edited the story which it had earlier carried on their handles four times to expunge the name of the APC governorship candidate.