Men of the Nigeria Police, Monday evening arrested an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Umuahia, Mr Nnamdi Nwabuko, for allegedly attempting to smuggle out seven card readers and some sensitive materials out of INEC office.
DAILY POST gathered that Nwabuko works in the ICT department.
He was accosted as he was driving out of the INEC office and immediately detained, while his ash-colour Camry car was impounded.
Confirming the incident to newsmen in her office on Tuesday, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Prof. Selina Oko, said that she had handed over Nwabuko and the head of the ICT department, Mr Herbert Ejiofor, to Zone 9 Police Command ”for further investigations.
“When I came to work this morning, I was informed that one of my staff was arrested by the police, while trying to take away some electoral materials out.
“The booth of his car was inspected and seven card readers and other sensitive materials used during the elections were discovered”.
She described the act as condemnable, saying, ”it would have been difficult for me to know that materials were being taken away from here if they did not catch him on his way out”.
The REC said that she could not have authorised the suspects to take the materials out of the premises ‘’even if they had sought for her approval”.
Prof. Oko confirmed that the commission’s office at Isialangwa South Local Government Council was set ablaze on April 12, while collation of results was going on at the INEC office in Umuahia, adding that another attempt to burn down the commission’s office at Obingwa local government council was unsuccessful.
Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 9, Mr Usman Gwary, confirmed the arrest of the INEC staff.
He, however, added that ”as far as I am concerned, no crime has been established against anybody”.
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