Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has on Saturday arrested Special Adviser to Bauchi state Governor, Bala Mohammed on Civil Service and Labour Matters, Mr. Abdon Dalla Gin for alleged vote buying.
Department of State Service (DSS) and EFCC arrested Gin at his Social Welfare Polling Unit shortly after casting his vote and was driving away.
According to ThePunch, an eyewitness who craved anonymity stated that the anti-graft officials searched Gin and found some money in his car.
The witness said;
He drove out of the vicinity of the Polling Unit after voting and suddenly, DSS and EFCC officials blocked his way and asked him to stop.
He came down and told them he was a government official but they insisted on searching him.
He obliged them and they searched him and found nothing on him. And then, they searched his car and found some money.
Gin was reportedly held at the Dass Divisional Police Station after over N500,000 was found in the trunk of his car.
Commissioner of Police in the state, Lawan Jimeta, who spoke to journalists, confirmed the arrest.
On his part, Legal Representative to the governor’s aide, Muktar Abubakar, also said Gin was arrested for having money in his car on election day.
He said;
He was arrested on a suspicion that he was having money in his car on the day of election but there was no evidence of giving money to anyone.
When asked if having money on election day is a violation of the electoral process, Abubakar said; “To us as lawyers who know the law, it is not”.
While briefing newsmen the Chairman of Dass Local Government, Hon. Suleiman Mohammed said that, Gin was arrested wrongly.
He added;
I was told that one of our stakeholders was arrested and I came to sympathise with him –which is normal. Though, I have not discussed with him but I heard that shortly after he addressed some journalists, he was arrested. The money is not his own, the money belongs to our party agents, presiding and returning officers.
Gin was later released on bail after he had been detained for about five hours.
