The Nigerian Police Force has paraded four Principal suspects it said were arrested “for criminal conspiracy, forgery, theft and unlawful possession Of APC Ward and Local Government Electoral Materials meant for the aborted APC Congress election of 5th May, 2018 in Imo State.
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The Force in a statement signed by Moshood Jimoh, Force Public Relations Officer, said among the suspects include Engr. Ikpamezie Innocent, a Special Adviser on Electoral Matters to Senator Hope Uzodinma representing Orlu Senatorial district of Imo State, Lawrence Archibong 34 years from Akpabuyo LGA of Cross River State, Kelechi Affone 27 years from Isiala Ngwa LGA of Abia State, Joseph Martins 28 yrs from Ivo LGA of Ebonyi State.
Items recovered from the suspects according to the statement include 68 APC ward congress result sheets, 6 APC LGA result sheet, 6 LG APC ward officers and delegates list for the aborted 5th May, 2018 wad congress elecrions and one hundred and thirty APC delegates nomination forms.
Sixty Eight (68) APC Ward Congress result sheets
ii. Six (6) APC LG result Sheet
iii. Six (6) LG APC Ward Officers and delegates list for the aborted 5thMay, 2018 APC Ward congress elections.
iv. One Hundred and Thirty (130) APC delegates nomination forms.
Full Text of Police Statement reads:
*PARADE OF FOUR (4) PRINCIPAL SUSPECTS ARRESTED FOR CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY, FORGERY, THEFT AND UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF APC WARDS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ELECTORAL MATERIALS MEANT FOR THE ABORTED APC WARD CONGRESS ELECTION OF 5TH MAY, 2018 IN IMO STATE BY THE FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER, ACP JIMOH MOSHOOD AT THE FORCE HEADQUARTERS, ABUJA. 12TH MAY, 2018.*
SUSPECTS
i. Engr. Ikpamezie Innocent ‘39Yrs’ – Principal Suspect from Mbaitoli LGA of Imo State (Special Adviser on Electoral matters to Senator Hope Uzodimma representing Orlu Senatorial District of Imo State)
ii. Lawrence Archibong ‘34Yrs’ from Akpabuyo LGA of Cross Rivers State
iii. Kelechi Affonne ‘27Yrs’ from Isialagwa North LGA of Abia State
iv. Joseph Martins ‘28Yrs’ from Ivo LGA of Ebonyi State
EXHIBITS
i. Sixty Eight (68) APC Ward Congress result sheets
ii. Six (6) APC LG result Sheet
iii. Six (6) LG APC Ward Officers and delegates list for the aborted 5thMay, 2018 APC Ward congress elections.
iv. One Hundred and Thirty (130) APC delegates nomination forms
The Nigeria Police Force is determined to ensure violence free and credible elections across the Country in the forth coming 2019 General Election. The Force has therefore, put in adequate security arrangement to guarantee free and fair elections from primary elections of all political parties to period of nomination and campaigns and the election proper throughout the Thirty Six States and the FCT.
2. The Inspector General of Police has directed all Commissioners of Police and their supervising Assistant Inspector General of Police to ensure adequate security and should not hesitate to deal decisively with any individual or group whose conduct or action might resort to disruption of the Electoral process anywhere in the country regardless of status or position in the society. They are to implement security strategies and measures to forestall any action that may mar or truncate the electoral process before, during and after the 2019 General Elections in the Country.
3. At about 1400hrs of today being 12th May, 2018, operatives of the IGP Special Tactical Squad on a tip-off trailed and arrested the above mentioned suspects in SEREDIB HOTEL AT WUSE II, ABUJA while in the act in hideout in the hotel, manipulating and entering data into result sheets of the Imo State APC Ward Election Result Sheets. In their possession were recovered the above listed exhibits of Ward and Local Government Electoral Materials of Six (6) Local Governments in Imo State, namely; (i) Ikeduru (ii) Ahiazu Mbaise (iii) Ngor-Okpala (iv) Owerri West (v) Owerri Municipal (vi) Mbaitoli
5. The Principal Suspect, Engr. Ikpamezie Innocent ‘39Yrs’ from Mbaitoli LGA of Imo State who admitted to be the Special Adviser on Electoral matters to Senator Hope Uzodimma representing Orlu Senatorial District of Imo State currently in the Senate confessed that all the electoral materials were given to them by Dr. Iyke Njoku, Zonal coordinator, Owerri Municipality to Senator Hope Uzodimma representing Orlu Senatorial District of Imo State in the Senate.
6. All the suspects admitted and confessed to the various criminal roles they played in the commission of the crime. Investigation is in progress and effort is being intensified to arrest Dr. Iyke Njoku and other suspects still at large. All suspects will all be arraigned in court on completion of investigation.
ACP JIMOH MOSHOOD
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FORCE HEADQUARTERS
ABUJA