The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) has hailed the verdict of a Lagos-based Federal High Court, which on Thursday convicted two former officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over money laundering.
The duo of Christian Nwosu and Tijani Bashir were arraigned before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Mr. Debo Adeniran, CACOL’s Executive Chairman, noted that although the convicted persons were yet to be sentenced, they were pronounced guilty of laundering the sum of N264.8million, which was said to have been doled out by Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, during the 2015 elections.
Adeniran, in a statement issued by Mr. Ikenna Aghagbobi, CACOL’s Media and Publications Officer, recalled that the group had on several occasions condemned Mrs. Allison-Madueke over her alleged past monumental fraudulent dealings in oil transactions, including diversion of funds and unscrupulous payment of petroleum subsidies.
He said: “We also commend the EFCC for its diligent investigation and prosecution of the corrupt INEC staffers.
“It is shameful that INEC officials that were supposed to be devoted to preventing electoral misconduct got involved in the monumental diversion of public funds for the purpose of influencing the outcome of the 2015 elections.
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“However, we have always emphasised the fact that the effects of official heists by those entrusted with positions of power can never be adequately quantified with regard to the improved quality of life being denied the citizens and the widespread lack of basic amenities across the nation.”
According to Adeniran, punishment that should be commensurate with the crime of corruption, was yet to be imposed on many of those found guilty, hence, cases of this nature had kept re-occurring.
The CACOL stressed: “It is pertinent to state that given the myriad of corruption cases pending against Allison-Madueke, the EFCC needs to fast-track her extradition so that she and her accomplices should face prosecution.
“We also call on the judge to impose adequate sentences on the convicted ex-INEC staff which would serve as a deterrent to others.”
