Aka Ekene, PBA Journalism MenteeIt’s just less than a day to Nigeria’s much-anticipated presidential election, and the country was already on high alert. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigeria Police Force on the eve of election day intercepted movement of money for vote buying in Lagos and Rivers states;
While the EFCC arrested an unnamed politician carrying the sum of N32,400,000, the Police in Rivers State said it intercepted another man in possession of $500,000. The Police said the man was arrested and will be charged with money laundering and illegal possession of foreign currency.
The EFCC had launched massive operation to deter vote trading and other financial malfeasance that had plagued previous elections in the country. The goal was to ensure that the elections were free, fair and transparent.
The EFCC had deployed tactical teams of operatives to all the states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The operatives were equipped with the latest technology and were working tirelessly to ensure that any attempt to subvert the elections was nipped in the bud.
The EFCC had also launched a massive social media campaign, urging members of the public to report any financial malpractice related to the elections. The Commission had even developed a financial crimes reporting App called Eagle Eye, which was available for download on the Google Play or Apple store.
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Despite the EFCC’s best efforts, reports of attempted vote buying were still coming in from various parts of the country. However, the Commission had intercepted one such attempt in Lagos, and it was a significant breakthrough.
The sum of N32,400,000 had been recovered from a suspect in Lagos. The money was believed to be meant for vote buying, and the suspect was promptly taken into custody for further questioning.
The news of the interception quickly spread, and many Nigerians praised the EFCC for its efforts. Some Nigerians even took to social media to share their experiences with attempted vote buying and how they had reported it to the EFCC.
As the day of the election drawing closer, the EFCC remained vigilant, and their efforts paid off. Hopefully the election will be held without any major incident of financial malpractice, and the country breathed a collective sigh of relief.
Even in the aftermath of the elections, the EFCC will continue its efforts to bring those involved in financial malpractice to justice. The Commission was commended for its role in ensuring that the elections were free, fair, and transparent, and it was hoped that their efforts would set a precedent for future elections in the country.
meanwhile, EFCC says taht members of the public are encouraged to report anyone trying to buy or sell votes by making use of the EFCC financial crimes reporting App, Eagle Eye, which is available for download on the Google Play or Apple store. They can also reach the Commission through our social media handle, @officialefcc or by email, info@efcc.gov.ng.
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