– A top INEC official says the 227 officials indicted in joint investigations by the EFCC, DSS and police would be suspended this week.
– The suspension is preparatory to prosecution of the indicted officials by the office of the attorney-general of the federation
– INEC is said to be willing to take back to work any official acquitted of charges against them by the court of law
The INEC is willing to release indicted officials to be tried in court of law.
The Punch is reporting that strong indications have emerged that at least 227 officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will be suspended by the electoral body this week.
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According to the report, it was gathered on Sunday, March 5 that those facing sanctions include those indicted in the probes by the joint coalition of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the police and the Department of State Services.
After the suspension, the office of the attorney-general would then move on to prosecute these officials, The Punch reports.
It quoted a top INEC source as saying: “The commission has taken a decision to suspend all those indicted by the investigation conducted by the security agencies.
“We held a crucial meeting on the fate of the indicted officials and decided to suspend them. You cannot be facing prosecution and be working at the same time. Then, they will await the outcome of their prosecution.
The police recently unveiled the huge cash it seized from the homes of some of the indicted INEC officials
“We agreed in the meeting that since these people were indicted by panels outside the commission, we cannot go for dismissal or any other sanction other than suspending them.”
Any of the accused who are acquitted in court will be readily taken back by INEC, the report added.
The source added: “During the period of the prosecution, they will be placed on suspension until after the conclusion of the court cases.
“The police have said they will prosecute them and the commission has agreed to cooperate fully with them.
‘If any one of them is discharged and acquitted by the court, such a person would be recalled to the commission to resume work.”
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But INEC spokesperson, Rotimi Oyekanmi, the chief press secretary to the INEC chairman, said he was not aware of the decision to suspend the indicted officials.
He however he admitted that a mmajor decision would be taken on them by the Commission this week.
Oyekanmi said: “I am not aware, whether they have been suspended or not, because if an action is going to be taken by a committee, why place them on suspension?
“There has been a recommendation already. What I am aware of is that the disciplinary committee that received the report of those that were investigated is going to take a major decision on them this week.”
Recall that earlier reports say INEC had sent all its directing staff, administrative secretary and heads of departments away from Rivers state following the messy outing at the recently held local government election in the state.
Among those affected by the massive shake-up were all the electoral officers heading the 23 local government areas in the state.
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