INEC staff nabbed in Abia with card readers, result sheets

Nnamdi Nwabuko, a staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, in Umuahia, Abia State, was on Monday arrested for being in possession of seven card readers and some result sheets.

Nwabuko, who works in the ICT department, was reportedly arrested by policemen guarding the INEC office while attempting to move the items away in his Toyota Camry.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Selina Oko, confirmed the incident to newsmen on Tuesday in Umuahia.

Oko said she handed over Nwabuko and the head of the ICT department, Herbert Ejiofor, to Zone 9 police.

She said: “When I came to work this morning, I was informed about what happened and when I inspected the content of the booth of the car, it contained seven card readers and other sensitive materials used during the elections.

“I handed them over to the police because they were taking the materials away without my authorization.”

She promised to assist the police with useful information to enhance their investigation.

Oko described the incident as “condemnable”, adding: “If they were not caught on their way out with the materials, I may not have known.”

The REC said she could not have authorised the suspects to take the materials out of the premises “even if they had sought for my approval”.

She confirmed that INEC office in Isialangwa South Local Government Council was set ablaze on April 12, while an unsuccessful attempt was made to torch the commission’s office in Obingwa local government council.

Although Oko said she was yet to establish the LGA where the materials were used during the elections, a senior INEC official told newsmen that the card readers were deployed in Obingwa Local Government Area.

The official, who requested anonymity, said the result sheets were those of Obingwa, Osisioma and Isialangwa North LGAs.

When contacted, Usman Gwary, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 9, said that the matter was being investigated.

Gwary however said no offence had been established against the two INEC staff.