by Azeez Adeniyi

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday arraigned three officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for alleged bribery.

They have been accused of collecting bribe from a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke to compromise the 2015 general elections.

[Read Also: Bribery: INEC suspends 202 staff, places them on half salary]

The accused persons include Christian Nwosu, Yisa Adedoyin and Tijani Bashir.

They were arraigned on seven counts before the Federal High Court in Lagos.

The charges were read and Nwosu pleaded guilty while Adedoyin and Bashir pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Rotimi Oyedepo, the prosecutor informed the court that Nwosu had elected to enter into plea bargain with the EFCC.

Oyedepo added that already Nwosu had made a refund of N5 million and surrendered the title document of a landed property he purchased for N25  millon in Delta State.

Nwosu’s lawyer, Adeku Nbangba confirmed the position and pleaded with Justice Mohammed Idris to temper justice with mercy in deciding the fate of the accused.

The judge granted bail in the sum of N50 million each to Adedoyin and Bashir, adding that they should deposit their international passport with the court’s registrar.

Idris also ruled that Nwosu be remanded in prison and adjourned till April 17 for sentencing.

The prosecution had alleged that the accused committed the offence on March 27, 2015 by accepting bribe from the ex petroleum minister.