Three INEC Workers Arraigned For Stealing Voter Cards

Three employees of the Independent National Electoral Commission in
Anambra State have been charged before the Magistrate Court 2, Atani,
in connection with the theft of Permanent Voter Cards meant for some
communities in Ogbaru Local Government Area.

According to the charge, all the PVCs for Akili-Ogidi/Obeagwe ward are missing.

Unknown people were said to have broken into the INEC office at Atani,
headquarters of Ogbaru local government area on the night of September
2, 2014 and carted away PVCs for the affected communities.

The three INEC staff charged were the security guards of the
commission on duty on the night the incident took place. They are
Anene Nwokedi, 46, Victor Okei, 38 and Fredrick Ijoma, 43.

They were charged for "office breaking and stealing thereby committed
an offence punishable under section 495(a) of Criminal Code Cap.36,
Vol.1, revised law of Anambra state of Nigeria, 1991 as amended".

They were further charged for breaking and entering into the office of
the electoral officer, an offence punishable under section 381 of the
same Criminal Code and for stealing "some quantities of PVCs totalling
about 8,367 belonging to some communities in Ogbaru Local Government
Area, properties of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and thereby
committed offence punishable under section 353(5) of the same Criminal
Code."

The accused persons were also charged under section 81 of the Criminal
Code for negligence and failing to prevent the carting away of the
PVCs.

The guards however pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them.

Chief Magistrate Nwabasili granted them bail and adjourned the case
till November 5, 2014 for further hearing.

--PUNCH