Fresh scandal rocks INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and its Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega are currently enmeshed in a fresh scandal over alleged sharp practices in the procurement process of the ballot boxes used during the 2011 general elections.

The allegation against them was contained in a counter-affidavit that was deposed before the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court by an indigenous company, Bedding Holdings Ltd, which equally fingered the erstwhile INEC chairman, Prof. Maurice Iwu in the alleged fraud.

Specifically, the company, in an affidavit that was deposed by its chairman, Chief Sylvester Odigie, told the court that it has garnered sufficient evidence to prove that Jega allegedly sustained the fraudulent activities of his predecessor, Iwu, in the procurement process of additional 150,000 transparent ballot boxes used for the 2011 polls.

It further alleged that companies with insufficient share capital were used for selective tender and bidding for the procurement of the multi-billion naira ballot boxes procurement contract.

Besides, the INEC boss was accused of fraudulently misrepresenting facts to the Federal Executive Council, FEC, the approving authority for the contract in order to favour a preferred company, EMCHAI Limited, for the contract.

The deponent alleged that EMCHAI, which was awarded the ballot boxes procurement contract, in addition to using fake patent for bidding, had insufficient share capital of 10,000 with which it bided for the contract.

An exhibit attached to the motion filed by EMCHAI before the court showed that the company was rendering annual returns in paltry sum of between N1,000 and a maximum of N3, 000 between year 1999 to 2009 even after securing N5.528 billion for the 300,000 units of boxes used for the 2007 general elections and N1.950 billion for the 150,000 additional units of boxes for the 2011 general elections.

Likewise, another company allegedly used in selective bidding for the transparent ballot boxes procurement process by INEC under Jega was ANOWAT Project and Resources Ltd.

ANOWAT was said to have been registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC, on September 22, 2010 barely two months to the November 15, 2010, a date Jega allegedly raised memo to the FEC in respect of the said contract.

According to the company, “INEC under the new administration of the 7th Defendant (Jega) sustained the fraudulent and criminal activities of the 1st, 2nd and 6th Defendants under the leadership of Prof. Maurice Iwu.

No date has been fixed for hearing of the substantive case owing to the fact that the high court is currently on vacation.