Cash allegedly recovered from the INEC officials by the Police out of the bribe they allegedly received from Wike
The 23 officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) docked on Tuesday for allegedly receiving N360million from Gov. Nyesom Wike of River during the Dec. 10, 2016 re-rerun election are challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the bribery case filed against them.
The defendants who were dragged to court on a seven- count charge bordering on money laundering and economic crimes insisted that they should be tried in Port Harcourt, Rivers State where the offences were committed, rather than Federal High Court, Abuja where they were arraigned on Tuesday.
The Court had adjourned till April 7 to hear the application challenging its jurisdiction filed by the 23 INEC officials.
The defendants are: Shittu Lamido, Henry Owokure, Peter Ewatade, Mrs Mary Pennap, Gwatana Jibril, Ivase Stephen, Abdullahi Ogabo, Gayus Hassan, Hussaina Yahaya and James Oqwuche.
Others are: Karimu Aminu, Adedokun Ayotunde, Najeem Ayotunde, Balogun Funmilayo, Adams Kadiri, Akinwande Adesoji, Lukeman Olabimpe and Tiamiyu Arowolo.
The rest are: Akinwoye Amodu, Nwoha Yusuf, Patrick Anuke, Iro Abali, Nwosu Olucchi and Arukwe Chinelo.
When the matter was called up for mention, Mr A.A Halilu, Assistant Chief State Counsel for the prosecution, told the court that all the defendants were present and they were ready for the matter.
Mr Ahmed Raji, counsel to the 1st to 20th defendants, however, informed the court of his application which he filed, questioning the territorial jurisdiction of the court in the matter.
Mr Raji said the offence took place in Port Harcourt, while their arraignment took place in Abuja.
He also said that the defendants were not resident in Abuja and urged the court to hear the application.
The other defence counsel, Mr Ukpan Ukaiso and Mr E. A. Nwagwa aligned themselves with the argument of Raji.
News Agency of Nigeria reports that the prosecution said they were aware of the issue of jurisdiction raised and ready to respond before Justice John Tsoho adjourned the matter.