Diezani’s N30m was for logistics, not bribe, ex-INEC official tells court

One of the former Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials, Christian Nwosu, accused of collecting N30 million from the former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke, to rig the 2015 general elections has claimed that the money was not a bribe, but for ‘logistics’

Nwosu on Thursday told a Federal High Court in Lagos that the money, which was allegedly meant to help rig the election for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was for logistics support and that he did not personally benefit from it.

Nwosu was a former administrative secretary of INEC in Kwara State. He made the disclosure when he testified during a trial-within-trial before the court presided over by Justice Mohammed Idris.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Nwosu alongside another INEC official, Tijani Bashir, on charges bordering on reception of N30 million bribe from the former Minister of Petroleum.

He was being cross-examination by the EFCC prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, when he made the claims.

Nwosu said, “I did not personally benefit from the N30 million; the ad hoc staff benefited because the elections went smoothly with the logistics support.”

“The money was not given to me by way of cheque; we were asked to go to the bank to collect it. No cheque was given to me at the bank.. I just signed a document at the bank which confirmed the receipt of the money.

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“I did not instruct the bank to transfer the money to any account because it was not for me but for the coordinator who is to ensure that the money gets to the ad hoc staff.”

According to Nwosu, N13 million and N17 million were paid into his accounts on April 7 and April 13, 2015 respectively.

The presiding judge, Justice Idris, adjourned the matter until November 15.

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