Falana: “N2bn Bribe”: Binani’s Denial Is Insufficient, EFCC, ICPC Should Initiate an Investigation

The SAN requested an investigation of those involved in declaring Binani the winner by the EFCC and the ICPC.

Femi Falana, a human rights attorney and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), has requested that a thorough investigation be done into the alleged 2 billion naira enticement that followed the contentious proclamation of the winner of the Adamawa State by-election on Sunday.

Aishatu ‘Binani’ Dahiru, the All Progressive Congress (APC) candidate who was earlier declared the winner by the troubled Hudu Yunusa Ari, Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state, refuted claims of bribery.

Falana asserted that Binani’s denial was insufficient on Thursday’s Sunrise Daily on Channels Television.

Falana asserted that an inquiry was necessary because there were claims that the sum of 2 billion naira was changing hands.

The senior lawyer said that Binani’s acceptance speech proved she was complicit in the chaos and that those responsible for the announcement of Binani as the winner should be investigated and prosecuted.

Was there a motive? That has to be looked into. The police officers, the police commissioner, the head of the state security service, and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were seated at the high table with Mr. Yunusa Ari.

“Those responsible for the criminal activity that took place must all face legal proceedings. It is not sufficient for the IGP to just reassign the offending commissioner of police or to remove the director of state security from the state.

There have been erroneous statements of results in the past, he noted, so it has occurred before.

Falana applauded INEC for acting quickly to guarantee that the correct reaction was put into place, saying that without comprehensive action, impunity and aberrations will continue to be perpetrated.

He claims that in order to guarantee that those who broke the law are held accountable, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practises Commission (ICPC) must get engaged.

“It will be necessary to include the EFCC and the ICPC in the investigation of the claims of 2 billion naira’s enticement. The APC candidate has a stake in seeing that this problem receives a thorough investigation.

“The IGP would need to get the probe along quickly. We anticipate that Adamawa REC will have been detained at this point, and if they cannot locate him, they must obtain a court order declaring him sought.

“There will need to be an investigation and legal action against every security guard involved. By suspending him, INEC has done the proper thing to prevent him from further undermining the democratic process.

According to the SAN, the law calls for severe punishment for any kind of election plot, misbehaviour, or money inducement.

In accordance with Section 120 Subsection 4 of the Electoral Act, the law is extremely clear on this issue. Anyone participating in any fraudulent statement of the election results is subject to prosecution, and the maximum sentence is three years in prison, which in my opinion is not harsh enough.

Additionally, the Electoral Act’s Section 121 stipulates a 12-month jail sentence for financial inducement in relation to elections.

Additionally, he urged that INEC and the Nigerian Bar Association’s legal practitioner disciplinary committee take action against the Adamawa REC.

Because he has tarnished the legal profession, the Nigerian Bar Association must intervene and submit a petition to the legal practitioner disciplinary committee for an urgent discipline.