N250m bribe: INEC holds emergency meeting today

N250m bribe: INEC holds emergency meeting today
Taiwo Adisa, Abuja
Tuesday, May 12, 2009

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is to hold an emergency meeting today to resolve the alleged N250 million bribe said to have been given to some of its staff who participated in the last governorship rerun in Ekiti state.



Sources in Abuja confirmed to the Nigerian Tribune that the Commission will hold a meeting of its National Commissioners and the management which will be presided over by the Chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu.

Media reports had indicated last week that some staff of the commission were being questioned by the Police over allegations that some of them had the sum of N250 million earmarked for them as gift by one of the political parties that participated in the election.

The Police unit in INEC office in Abuja headed by DCP J B Awelewa, had interrogated some members of staff of INEC over the allegation, which blew into the open shortly after the rerun on April 25.

A confidential secretary in the commission, Mr. John Onaji was said to have confronted the acting Director of Operations, Mr. Okey Ndichie with the information that the director was given the amount to be shared among INEC staff who participated in the election.

But the acting director of operations took offence and reported the matter to the Police unit at (INEC), prompting Awelewa to interrogate the affected confidential secretary and the director.