EFCC Arraigns Two Men For Vote-Buying In Gombe State (Photo)

EFCC Arraigns Two Men For Vote-Buying In Gombe State (Photo)

The Gombe Zonal Office of EFCC on March 19, 2019 arraigned Alhaji
Amadu Garkuwa and Ibrahim Abdul, before Justice Abubakar Jauro of the
state’s High Court, sitting in Gombe, on a one-count charge bordering
bribery.

They were arrested on February 23, 2019 at Kofar Dagaci Madaki
Polling Unit within Gombe Metropolis, during the Presidential and
National Assembly election, following an intelligence report received by
operatives. They were arrested in the act of sharing money in exchange
for votes.
 

The count reads: “That you, Alhaji Amadu Garkuwa, on or about 23rd
February, 2019 on the date slated for Presidential/National Assembly
Election at Kofar Dagaci Polling Unit, Mawadaki Area of Gombe, Gombe
State, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to
commit an offence received money the sum of N75,000 (Seventy Five
Thousand Naira Only) from one Musa Mohammed to be expended for election
bribery and thereby committed an offence contrary to the provision of
section 124 (5) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) and punishable
under section 124 (1), (b) and (c) of the same Act.”

They however, pleaded “not guilty” to the charge. Prosecuting
counsel, A.Y. Mutaka and G. Ndeh, thereafter, applied for a date for
trial to commence.
 

Defence counsel, A.B.L Ibrany, however moved an oral application for
bail, which was opposed by the prosecution. Though the prosecution
opposed the oral bail application on the ground that it ought to be
formally made since the court was a court of records, Justice Jauro,
granted them bail on the terms and conditions of the administrative bail
earlier granted them by the EFCC.
 

While adjourning to April 3, 2019 for trial, the judge added that
relevant documents relating to the bail should be filed in the registry
of the court.