Federal High Court sitting in Asaba, Delta State capital, Monday remanded an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) official, Mrs. Fidelia Omoile, in prison custody. Mrs. Omoile, who served as an INEC official in Isoko South local government area of Delta state during the 2015 presidential election, was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for collecting a bribe of N112,480,000.
She was allegedly one of the 100 INEC officials to receive bribes from former Minister of Petroleum Resources Diezani Alison-Madueke, who allegedly disbursed roughly $115 million total in bribes.
The EFCC had arrested Mrs. Omoile in April 11, 2016 after the anti-graft received a tip that she was bribed during the run-up to the 2015 election.
HardReporters judicial correspondent reports that the presiding Judge, Justice Efreti Abang read the charges to Mrs. Omoile.
Count one: “That you, Fidelia Omoile, on or about the month of March 2015 at Asaba within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did Conspire among yourselves to receive cash payment in the sum of N112,480,000.00, exceeding the statutory limit without going through a financial institution and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 18 (a) of the Money laundering (Prohibition) Act 2012 as amended and punishable under Section 15 (3) and (4) of the same Act.
Count two: “That you, Fidelia Omoile, on or about the month of March 2015, at Asaba within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did receive cash payment in the sum of N112,480,000.00, exceeding the statutory limit without going through a financial institution and thereby committed an offense contrary to Section 1 (a) of the Money laundering (Prohibition) Act 2012 as amended and punishable under Section 16 (b) and (4) of the same Act.”
The defendant however pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecution counsel Sadiq Hussaini therefore asked for a trial date and moved that the defendant be remanded in prison custody while, counsel to the defendant, K. O. Obamogie, made an oral application for bail of Mrs. Omoile and urged the court to grant his prayers.
Ruling on the matter, Justice Abang turned down the defendant’s application for bail and adjourned the matter to June, 6, 2017 for hearing and ordered the defendant to be remanded in prison custody.
