2 Arraigned Over Ballot Box Theft

Mr. Musa Lateef 35 and Odunayo Onabukun 27, of Ikorodu area of Lagos State, South West Nigeria, have been arraigned before an Ebute Metta Magistrate’s Court, for snatching a ballot box during the December bye-election in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Ikorodu Constituency.

Musa was alleged to have snatched the ballot box  containing ballot papers after the election at Ginti Village polling Unit 17, Ijede Road, Ikorodu, while Odunayo was said to have carried out a similar act  at Methodist Primary School, Ewu-Elepe polling unit 07.

They were said to have armed themselves with locally made gun and a pistol, which they shot into the air to scare other voters from voting.

Charge one against Musa reads:  “That you Musa Lateef, and others still at large, on  23 December, 2010 being the bye-election day into Lagos State House of Assembly, at about 1430 hours at Ginti Village polling unit, Ijede Road, Ikorodu, in the Lagos magisterial district did conspire together to commit electoral offences by snatching election box containing ballot papers of voters, after shooting a locally made gun into the air to prevent other voters from voting and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 124 (5) of the Electoral Act, 2010.”

The charge against the second accused person reads:  “That you Odunayo and others still at large, on 23 December, 2010, being bye election day into Lagos State House of Assembly at about 1420 hours, at Methodist Primary School, Ewu-Elepe polling unit 07, Ijede Road, Ikorodu, in the Lagos magisterial district, did conspire together to commit electoral offences by snatching election box containing ballot papers of voters, after shooting a pistol into the air to restrain other voters from voting and thereby committed and offence punishable under section 124 (5) of the Electoral Act, 2010.”

They were also accused of committing an offence contrary to Section 129 (4) and 131 (a), (b) (c ) of the Electoral Act, 2010.

Both Musa and Odunayo pleaded not guilty to the two count charges.

Mrs. Folashade Kayode, the trial magistrate admitted them to bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties each.

Kayode ordered that the sureties must show evidence of paying taxes to Lagos State government, evidence of livelihood and must be residing within Lagos State.

The case has been adjourned till 16 February, 2011 for trial.

— Paul Sanusi &Abosede Agboola

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