23rd May, 2012
Three persons have been arraigned at the magistrate’s court in Afuze, headquarters of Owan West LGA of Edo State, southsouth Nigeria, for electoral offences.
They were alleged to have conspired to procure INEC voters’ cards contrary to section 124(5) and punishable under section 120 (!) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.
The three accused, Richard Usikhifo, 61, Segun Omoarebu, 40, and Ajayi Ohikhuemi, 30, were charged before Magistrate W. I. Aziegbevbin at the Afuze Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday.
The three accused have four counts listed against them. They include: “That you, Richard Usikhifo ‘M’, Segun Omoarebu ‘M’ and Ajayi Ohikhuemi ‘M’ sometime in the month of May 2012 at Imafun Quaters in Otuo, in the Afuze Magisterial District, did unlawfully conspire to commit an offence, to wit: procurement and dealing in INEC voters’ cards contrary to Section 124(5) and punishable under Section 120(1) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.
“That you, Richard Usikhifo ‘M’ sometime in the month of May 2012 at Imafun Quarters in Otuo, in the Afuze Magisterial District, did unlawfully procure and deal in INEC voters’ cards belonging to persons other than as provided in the Act, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 120 (1)(d) of the Electoral Act 2012 as amended.
“That you, Segun Omoarebu ‘M’ on or about the 13th day of May 2012 at Imafun Quarters Otuo in the Afuze Magisterial District, did have in your possession without lawful excuse, Seventy (70) INEC voters’ cards belonging to other persons, and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 120(1)(c) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.
“That you, Ajayi Ohikhuemi ‘M’ sometime in the month of May 2012 at Imafun Quarters Otuo, in the Afuze Magisterial District, being a person entitled to a voter’s card, gave it to one Mr Richard Usikhifo, who is not an officer appointed and acting in the course of his duty under the Electoral Act, for use at an election, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 120(1) (a) of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.”
Their case has been adjourned till 19 June, 2012.