INEC data machine trial: Hearing continues today

 

 

Hearing on a suit against suspects in an Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC’s, Direct Data Capturing (DDC) machines found in possession of a former INEC official, Osunlola Akinyinka, continues today, March 6.

 

Justice Aderonke Aderemi of the Oyo state High Court had adjourned for further hearing when counsel in the suit formally opened arguments before her yesterday, Wednesday.

Akinyinka, former head of ICT in Ibadan office of INEC, was caught with the machines and arrested on March 19, 2011 in an hotel in Ibadan shortly before the general elections in the year.

The former INEC staff was arrested alongside other three persons, Olufemi Samuel, Dauda Oladeji and Salami Adetola, and are currently stand trial on a two-count charge of conspiracy and alleged tampering with information in the machines.

The court is to determine  whether the machines, one(1)laptop, eleven(11) chargers and eleven(11) external discs , containing the names and particulars of eligible registered voters in six(6) local government areas of Oyo state, were actually tampered with.

INEC was at the stage of printing voters’ registers preparatory to the 2011 general election at time of the arrest of the four men.

“That you Osunlola Akinyinka, Olufemi Samuel, Dauda Oladeji and Salami Adetola on the 19th March, 2011 at Davies Hotel, Bodija within the Ibadan Judicial Division did conspire together to tamper with INEC Direct Data Capturing Machines contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal code, Cap 3, Vol II, laws of Oyo state of Nigeria, 2000.

 

“That you Osunlola Akinyinka, Olufemi Samuel, Dauda Oladeji and Salami Adetola , on the same day, time and place within the Ibadan Judicial Division made unlawful revision of voters’ register at a centre or place not designated by INEC and thereby  committed an offence contrary to Section 117(1) of  the Electoral Act, 2012,” the two counts read.

Akinyinka, who was cross-examined by INEC’s lawyer, Shuaib Alaran, said as the head of the ICT unit at INEC, the six DDC machines are his official laptops, but denied being hired to manipulate the content of the DDC machines.

He also told the court that after the machines were found on him in the hotel, INEC set up an investigative panel while he was sacked shortly after appearing before the panel.

He said his sack letter did not contain reasons for his sack.

He also said he was only trying to assist the three other defendants arrest with him at the hotel for ad hoc job with the commission.

INEC Counsel however alleged that all that Osunlola was saying at the court concerning the DDC machines were afterthought, urging the presiding judge , Justice Aderonke  Aderemi to see through all the alleged  lies.