Court Jails PDP Chieftains Over N142 Million Election Bribe Scam

The Federal High Court in Bauchi, Bauchi State, has convicted two bigwigs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state for conspiracy and money laundering involving N142 million.

Saleh Gamawa and Aminu Gadiya were prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for receiving the total of N142,460,000 in cash to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential elections in Bauchi State, according to a statement by the anti-corruption agency on Saturday.

The two men, who were members of the Finance and Funds Disbursement Committee of the PDP for the 2015 general elections, accepted the cash payment in excess of the threshold provided by law, EFCC added.

The judge, Hassan Dikko, handed down his judgement on 2 March, convicting and sentencing them to jail with an option of fine, EFCC’s statement signed by the commission’s spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, said.

The court consequently sentenced the two defendants to two years’ imprisonment at the Bauchi Correction Service or a fine of N3 million each in lieu of imprisonment on count 1.

It went further to sentence the second defendant to two years’ imprisonment with an option of N3 million in lieu of imprisonment on count 2.

The sentences are to run concurrently from 2 March.

The defendants were first arraigned on 4 June 2018 and re-arraigned on 16 October 2018 on two charges of money laundering.

Count one of the charge reads, “That you, Saleh Hussaini Gamawa and Aminu Umar Gadiya, all members of the Finance and Funds Disbursement Committee of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) 2015 General Elections, and in such capacities sometimes in March, 2015 in Bauchi State within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did agree amongst yourselves to commit an offence, to wit; Conspiracy to accept cash payment exceeding the threshold provided by law, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 18(a) and punishable under Section 16(2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2012( as amended) now No.1, 2012”.

Count two reads, “That you, Sale Hussaini Gamawa and Aminu Umar Gadiya, all members of the of the Finance and Funds Disbursement Committee of the peoples ‘Democratic Party (PDP) 2015 General Elections, and in such capacities sometimes in March, 2015 in Bauchi State within the jurisdiction of this Honourabe Court did accept cash payment of N142,460,000.00 ( One Hundred and Forty Two Million, Four Hundred and Sixty Thousand Naira) from the Directorate of Finance, Bauchi State PDP Campaign Organization exceeding the required threshold of cash payment, thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1, 16(1)(d) and punishable under Section 16(2)(b) of the Money Laundering ( Prohibition)Act, 2011 (as amended) now No.1, 2012”

The defendants were first arraigned on June 4, 2018 and re-arraigned on October 16, 2018 on a two count charge for allegedly receiving over N142million to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential elections in Bauchi State.