BREAKING: Ballot paper thieves remanded in Minna prison

A Chief Magistrate sitting at the High Court Complex in Minna on Wednesday ordered the remand of three persons for stealing ballot paper result form and snatching of BVAS machines meant for election

The three suspects were arrested by the Police in AGAIE Divisional command for being in possession of the Electoral materials used in the conduct of the March 11 governorship and State Assembly election in Agaie town.

The suspects are Usman Aliyu, Mohammed Mohammed and Salihu Mohammed. They are standing trial on four count-charge which bordered on criminal conspiracy, being in possession of ballot papers and snatching of BIVAs No:26.01.10.001 and other Election materials and failure to give information to public servant.

According to the police prosecutor, Inspector Emmanuel Bassa the four count charges were punishable under section 97, of the penal code and section 115 (2),126 (I) of the Electoral Act 2023.

The police First Information Report (FIR), marked MN/CR/20/2023, that on the 18 of March, 2023, during the collation of results for the gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections at Bugana polling unit Magaji Ward of Agaie some thugs invaded the polling unit behaved in a disorderly manner, threatened the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) officials and snatched the BIVAs machine No: 26.01.10.001 and other Election materials.

“Police swung into action and moved to the scene recovered the INEC materials and arrested you Usman Aliyu, Mohammed Mohammed and you Salihu Mohammed all of Ekowuna area and Bugana village via Agaie.

“During police investigation BIVAs machine and other Election materials were found in the possession of you Usman Aliyu and when questioned you claimed to have gotten the INEC materials from one Ndagi and one Yahaya Soja both now (at large),

“Further police investigation revealed that you Mohammed Mohammed and you Salihu Mohammed you both knew the position of the INEC materials and you failed, neglected and deliberately refused to give information to the police you are thereby suspected to have committed the above Offences” the charges stated

When the charge were read to them by the overseeing Magistrate Ahmed Aliyu Musa they all pleaded not guilty and the police prosecutor Inspector Emmanuel Bassa then requested for the adjournment of the case to enable the police complete the investigation and to arrest those on the run.

The case was adjourned to the 4th of April for further mention and they were ordered to be remanded in correctional facility.