BY GBENGA ARIYIBI
ADO- EKITI—Four staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, were yesterday in Ekiti State, arraigned in an Ado Ekiti Magistrate Court on eight count charge of alleged tampering with electoral materials used for the House of Assembly election in April.

The accused persons are; Ajayi Gbenga (42) Ojo Oluwafemi (25), Oni Babajide (37) and Olusola Oladapo (41)

It will be recalled that seven INEC staff were arrested by the police on June 24 at an undisclosed hotel in Omuo Ekiti, Ekiti East Local Government area for alleged doctoring of materials used in Ekiti East Constituency 2 House of Assembly election.

Dele Ajibola of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, won the election, while the caretaker chairman of Ekiti East Local Government, Mrs. Anthonia Alaba Omonusi of Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, is challenging his victory.

They were charged among others for “conspiracy to wit, to alter ballot papers used in the April, 2011 House of Assembly election in Ekiti East Constituency II.”

The prime suspect, Olusola Oladapo was accused of collecting N180,000 from the ACN candidate in the election.

He was alleged to have given N50, 000 each to Ajayi  Gbenga and Oni Babajide while Ojo Oluwafe got N30,000.

The  accused persons where however granted bail following  application by their counsel, Owoseni Ajayi bail, which  was not opposed by the prosecuting counsel, Mr. Moses Lagbo.

Chief Magistrate Adesoji Adegboye granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N20,000 each, with two suretees, one of whom must be a civil servant.