Hotmedia
LATESTPOLITICS

Election Rigging: Senate Approves 20-Years Jail Term For Ballot Snatchers. 

FCT, Abuja – The upper legislative chamber, Senate, has passed a bill to establish the electoral offences commission as it approved 20 years jail term or a fine of N40m for ballot boxes’ snatchers.

Hotmedia.ng gathered that the bill sponsored by the senator representing Borno North, Abubakar Shaib Kyari, passed the second reading last March and was sent to the Senate committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Read Also : Latest: I May Die In DSS Custody Over Health Issues, Nnamdi Kanu Tells Court. 

Hotmedia.ng learned that the chairman of the committee, Kabiru Gaya, disclosed this on Tuesday, July 13, while briefing newsmen shortly after plenary.

INEC lacks the power to prosecute electoral offenders :

Gaya, in his presentation, said establishing the Electoral Offences Commission has become imperative in view of INEC’s inability to prosecute electoral offenders in accordance with the provisions of sections 149 and 150(2) of the Electoral Act (as amended).

Read Also : I Wonder Why Nigerians Accept Me Despite Being Poor — Pres. Buhari

The reports that The Senate in Clause 12 of the bill approved at least five years jail term or a fine of at least N10 million or both, for any officer or executive of any association or political party that engaged in electoral fraud that contravened the provisions of clauses 221, 225(1)(2)(3) and (4) and 227 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

It approved that a political party’s candidate or agent who damages or snatches ballot boxes, ballot papers or election materials before, during or after an election without the permission of the election official in charge of the polling station attracts at least 20 years imprisonment or a fine of at least N40 million.

Read Also : Latest: PDP Approaches Court To Sack Gov. Matawalle Over Defection To APC. 

The Senate also adopted the committee’s recommendation of 15 years imprisonment for any person involved in ballot box snatching, supplying voter’s card to persons without due authorisation, unauthorised printing of voters’ register, illegal printing of ballot paper or electoral document among others

Senate set to pass the electoral bill into law.

Read Also : Author, Dr Uzor Ngoladi & Abimbola Aboderin Of Punch Newspaper In Legal Tussle Over N100m Book Lunch

Meanwhile, a previously reported that the Senate committee on INEC on Wednesday, July 14, submitted its report to the House after concluding its assignment on the electoral amendment bill.

It was reported that based on this, the report is expected to be listed for consideration and approval by the Senate on Thursday, July 15. This was confirmed by Senator Sadiq Umar, the chairman of the Senate committee on rules

Related posts

Length Of Sadio Mane’s Ban For Punching Leroy Sane Is Revealed As Thomas Tuchel Speaks

Hotmedia

Breaking News : 52 Northern Groups Ask UN, Others To Back Biafra Agitation.

Hotmedia

Economic Crisis: UK Finance Minister Resigns Over Disagreement With Boris Johnson.

Hotmedia

So Sad: Popular Nollywood Actor Ambassador Rich Oganiru Is Dead(Details)

Hotmedia

Nigerian Musician Portable To Face Six Count Charges – Police

Hotmedia

Olusegun Obasanjo Biography: Military/Political Career, Net Worth, Polygamy.

Hotmedia

Leave a Comment