EFCC arraigns two men for vote-buying in Gombe State (Photo)

The Gombe Zonal Office of EFCC on March 19, 2019, arraigned Alhaji Amadu Garkuwa and Ibrahim Abdul, before Justice Abubakar Jauro of the state’s High Court, sitting in Gombe, on a one-count charge bordering bribery.

They were arrested on February 23, 2019, at Kofar Dagaci Madaki Polling Unit within Gombe Metropolis, during the Presidential and National Assembly election, following an intelligence report received by operatives. They were arrested in the act of sharing money in exchange for votes.

The count reads: “That you, Alhaji Amadu Garkuwa, on or about 23rd February, 2019 on the date slated for Presidential/National Assembly Election at Kofar Dagaci Polling Unit, Mawadaki Area of Gombe, Gombe State, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, with intent to commit an offence received money the sum of N75,000 (Seventy Five Thousand Naira Only) from one Musa Mohammed to be expended for election bribery and thereby committed an offence contrary to the provision of section 124 (5) of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) and punishable under section 124 (1), (b) and (c) of the same Act.”

They, however, pleaded “not guilty” to the charge. Prosecuting counsel, A.Y. Mutaka and G. Ndeh, thereafter, applied for a date for the trial to commence.

Defence counsel, A.B.L Ibrany, however, moved an oral application for bail, which was opposed by the prosecution. Though the prosecution opposed the oral bail application on the ground that it ought to be formally made since the court was a court of records, Justice Jauro, granted them bail on the terms and conditions of the administrative bail earlier granted them by the EFCC.

While adjourning to April 3, 2019, for trial, the judge added that relevant documents relating to the bail should be filed in the registry of the court.