How N15m Was Paid Into REC’s Account In One Day

The Yobe State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja was yesterday told how N15m was allegedly paid into the account of the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Yobe state shortly before the April 11 gubernatorial election in the state.

Two senior staff of two new generation banks confirmed the lodgement of N8million and N7million into the accounts on April 8, 2015.

But Malam Yusuf Ali, SAN, counsel to the state governor, Ibrahim Gaidam. described the allegation as baseless saying that the petitioner is only out to entertain the court.
According to the witnesses, only N23, 000 was in the account before the money was paid.
Umar Alkali, the Operations Manager of the Damaturu Branch of one of the banks admitted some of the documents and bank statement of accounts and tellers that the money was paid.
The REC and the ADC to Governor of Yobe state, Ibrahim Gaidam, were joined as respondents in the petition.

The Acting Branch manager of Damaturu of one of the banks, Bama-aji Kukawa in his evidence told the court that the moneey was paid into the account on April 8, 2015, three days to the governorship election.
“The account was not opened in my branch, so, we had to ask for the scanned copy of the statement of account from the branch where it was opened so as to be able to produce it in court. N8million was deposited into the account on April 8, 2015 and was withdrawn after it was paid into the account.”, he said.
Alkali. In his evidence before the court said N7million was paid into the account on the same day.
He also brought the bank statement and tellers to show that the money was paid into the account.
Counsel to the governor, Mr. Abiodun Owonikoko, SAN, said at the court yesterday that the ADC to the governor and the REC were joined in the petition because of the allegation of corruption involved.
“The statement of account showed evidence of lodgement into the account. He initially had N23.000 in his account and all of a sudden, he withdrew N600,000 and transferred about N7million.
Alhaji Maina Waziri is challenging the victory of the governor at the tribunal.
In his petition, he alleges irregularities and corruption.

SOURCE: LEADERSHIP