The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission  arrested 14 people for alleged vote buying during the governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi states on Saturday.

 

The commission disclosed this in a statement posted on X.

 

According to the message, the suspects were arrested  during operations across voting centres in the three states.

 

They were said to have been nabbed based on intelligence gathered before the polls.

 

The anti-graft agency said a total of N11.04 million cash was recovered from the apprehended vote buyers and sellers.

 

This includes N9.31 million intercepted in Bayelsa and N1.73 million seized in Imo.

 

Two vehicles were also impounded from the suspects, who were mostly arrested around polling units and playgrounds being used as vote trading centers.

 

The EFCC stated that the 14 detainees will be charged to court after investigations are completed.

 

The commission said the arrests were part of efforts to tackle electoral malpractices including vote buying that could undermine the integrity of the off-cycle governorship elections.

 

The statement reads, “Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested 14 suspected vote buyers in Otuoke, Adawari playgrounds in Bayelsa State and at various polling units in Imo and Kogi States.

 

“They were arrested on Saturday, November 11, 2023 in intelligence-driven operations that commenced several days before the ongoing governorship elections in the three states.

 

“Also, a total sum of N11,040,000  comprising N9,310,000 intercepted from suspected vote buyers and sellers in Bayelsa and N1,730,000 intercepted from electoral fraud suspects across Imo State, were also recovered from them.

 

“Also, two vehicles were intercepted from the suspects. They will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.”