2023 Presidential, NASS Elections: Vote Buyer Arraigned, Pleads Guilty 

Kemisola Oye 

FOR allegedly engaging in vote buying during the 2023 presidential and National Assembly elections, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) today arraigned Wahab Hammed before a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja.

Hammed was arraigned before Justice Ismail Ijelu on a two-count charge bordering on conspiracy and bribery.

The charge was translated to the defendant in Yoruba language as he claimed not to understand either the  English language or pidgin English. He pleaded guilty to the charges.  

The prosecution counsel, Mr. Samuel Daji, informed the court that the defendant on 25 February 2023 conspired with one Segun Ijitola (now at large), to pay voters during the 2023 presidential and National Assembly elections.

Daji said that the defendant committed the offence at Unit 28, Gbaja Girls Junior High School, in Surulere, Lagos. 

His offences contravene the provision of sections 121 (1) and (5); 121 (1) and 1 (3) of the Electoral Act 2022.

The prosecution counsel however prayed the court to accommodate the matter on 7 December to enable the Commission to fine-tune the facts for review.

The defendant’s counsel, Mr Olabiyi Ademola, prayed the court to remand the defendant in the custody of EFCC since the matter would be called on 7 December.

The trial judge, Justice Ijelu thereafter ordered that the defendant be remanded in EFCC custody and should be produced on 7 December for review of facts and sentencing.

Eighteen-Eleven Media