The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it will prosecute the 215 case files, out of the 774 persons arrested for various electoral offences by the Police during the 2023 general elections.
In a message to the monthly review forum on Human Rights and the 2023 elections organized by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Abuja, the Chairman of INEC, Professor Yakubu Mahmoud stated that it is in recognition of the statutory power of INEC.
According to him, the commission has the power to prosecute electoral offence.
The Inspector General of Police recently forwarded 215 case files on electoral crimes to the commission for prosecution of the perpetrators.
Represented by the Deputy Director, Prosecution of the commission, Mr Nasara Haruna Auta, the INEC Chairman said the commission was partnering with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for Pro Bono legal services for the effective prosecution of electoral offenders arrested during the 2023 general election.
He said the 774 persons were arrested during the 2023 general elections for various shades of electoral offences, including dereliction of duty, criminal conspiracy, disorderly conduct at the electionhavingof offensive weapons, destruction of election materials, political thuggery, electoral violence, snatching of ballot boxes, stealing of sensitive election materials, among others.
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