20th April, 2011
Detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Yaba, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, have arraigned two men, Joseph Asanam Bassey, 24 and Mujeeb Mohammed Abiodun, 26 before an Ebute-Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court, Lagos for theft.
Bassey and Abiodun were alleged to have stolen two cubicles belonging to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, during the National Assembly elections at Ondo Street, Ebute-Meta East, Lagos. Bassey, the police stated, falsely claimed to be an agent of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN.
They were arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and false representation, offences the prosecutor, Sergeant Ekundayo Gabriel, said were punishable under Sections 516, 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap.C.17, Vol. II, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003 and Section 122(2) of the Electoral Act 2010, as amended.
Count two of the charge reads: “That you, Joseph Asanam Bassey, 24, Mujeeb Mohammed Abiodun, 26 on 9 April, 2011 at Ondo Street, Ebute-Meta East, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District did steal two Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) cubicles, value not yet ascertained and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 390(9) of the Criminal Code, Cap.C.17, Vol. II, Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria, 2003.
Count three reads: “That you, Joseph Asanam Bassey, 24 on 9 April, 2011 at Ondo Street, Ebute-Meta East, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District did falsely present yourself to be party agent of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, a representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 122(2) of the Electoral
—Abosede Agboola