Police quiz Electoral Officer over missing ballot booklets

By FESTUS AHON
THE Electoral Officer in Ughelli North Local Government Area, Mr Justice Umoh, has been quizzed by the Ughelli police over the missing 50 booklets of ballot papers meant for the governorship and State House of Assembly elections, held  on Tuesday.

Speaking to newsmen, the Area Commander in charge of the election in the Ughelli Area Command, Mr Uche Anozia, said  that one of the 60 cartons of ballot materials for the election in Ughelli North Local Government Area was discovered to be missing after only 59 cartons were counted.

Anozia said the missing carton was later found in a bush behind the Ughelli INEC office by a 55 years old woman, who immediately alerted the police in the Ughelli ‘A’ Division.

Anozia said the missing carton was later recovered by the officer in charge of the Divisional Surveillance Squad, Inspector Macaulay Imonin and one Inspector William Nwakagu.

He added that the party agents were already questioning the Electoral Officer on the missing ballot booklets when it was returned by the police.

According to him, the Electoral Officer in the area, Mr.  Umoh,  was invited for interrogation, after which he was released on bail after signing for the collection of the recovered ballot booklets.