Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday transferred to the Port Harcourt Division of the court the charges filed against 23 officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission who were accused of receiving N360m bribe from the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, in connection with the December 10, 2016 rerun elections in the state.
The judge, ruling on the notice of preliminary objection filed by the electoral officers challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the case in Abuja, held that the charges ought to be filed in the Rivers State capital, Port Harcourt, where the offences were allegedly committed.
Although Justice Tsoho agreed with the lead prosecuting counsel, Mr. Aminu Alilu, that the defendants ought to be arraigned with their plea taken before filing their preliminary objection, the judge held that the development was not “fatal” to the case.
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