Three employees of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Anambra State, have been charged before the Magistrate Court 2, Atani, for stealing permanent voters cards meant for some communities in Ogbaru Local Government Area.
All the PVCs, according to the charge, for Akili-Ogidi/Obeagwe ward, where the member representing Ogbaru in the House of Representatives, Mr. Victor Afam Ogene hails from are missing.
Ogene, who is the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, is seeking re-election. He recently defected from the All Progressives Grand Alliance to the Peoples Democratic Party. He was a former editor of The Source magazine.
Unknown people were said to have broken into the INEC office at Atani, headquarters of Ogbaru local government area in the night on September 2 and carted away PVCs for the affected communities
The three INEC staff charged were the security staff of the commission on duty on the night the incident took place. They are Anene Nwokedi, 46, Victor Okei, 38 and Fredrick Ijoma, 43.
They were charged for "office breaking and stealing thereby committed an offence punishable under section 495(a) of Criminal Code Cap.36, Vol.1, revised law of Anambra state of Nigeria, 1991 as amended."
They were further charged for breaking and entering into the office of the Electoral Officer, an offence punishable under section 381 of the same Criminal Code and for stealing "some quantities of PVCs totalling about 8,367 belonging to some communities in Ogbaru local government area, properties of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 353(5) of the same Criminal Code."
The accused were also charged under section 81 of the Criminal Code for negligence and failing to prevent the carting away of the PVCs.
The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges after the offences were read to them by the police Prosecutor.
The Chief Magistrate, Nwabasili, granted them bail and adjourned the case to November 5, 2014 for further hearing.
