Just in: Presidential poll: EFCC intercepts N32.4m vote-buying funds in Lagos

Barely 48 hours after deploying officers for election monitoring duties as part of effort to curb vote fraud and ensure integrity of the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections, the anti-graft agency, the Economic and Finance Crimes Commission (EFCC) has intercepted N32.4 million allegedly meant for vote buying in Lagos.

The Chairman of EFCC, Mr Abdulrasheed Bawa, disclosed this statement shared via the official twitter handle of the agency on Friday.

“EFCC Intercepts N32.4m Allegedly Meant for Vote-buying in Lagos the massive operation by the EFCC to deter vote trading and other financial malfeasance ahead of tomorrow’s presidential and national assembly elections may have begun paying dividends with the interception in Lagos of the sum of N32,400,000 (Thirty-two Million, Four Hundred Thousand Naira) allegedly suspected to be used for vote buying in Lagos.

“The recovery was made by operatives of the Lagos Zonal Command of the Commission. The suspect involved has been taken into custody for further questioning,” Persecondnews quotes Bawa as saying.

He urged all personnel on electoral monitoring duties to show courage and not give room to undermine the integrity of the election via financial inducement.

According to him, tactical teams of the operatives are currently on ground in all the states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.

Bawa implored the public to report any attempt of vote buying promptly.

“The Chairman of the Commission, Abdulrasheed Bawa has implored all personnel of the Commission deployed for election monitoring duties to show courage and not give room for unscrupulous persons to undermine the integrity of the elections through financial inducement.

“Tactical teams of operatives are currently on ground in all the states of the federation and the FCT. Telephone hotlines have already been circulated through social media for members of the public to share information regarding financial malpractices with agents of the Commission.

“Members of the public are encouraged to report anyone trying to buy or sell votes by making use of the EFCC financial crimes reporting App, Eagle Eye, which is available for download on the Google Play or Apple store,” the statement said.