HURIWA urges EFCC, ICPC, CCB to investigate link between INEC, Superflux, Ogun state governorship election

Fri, Aug 4, 2023

By editor

5 MIN READ

Politics

By Anthony Isibor

THE Human Rights Writers Association, HURIWA, has urged the Economic Financial and Crimes Commission, EFCC, Independent Corrupt Practices Commission, ICPC and the Code of Conduct Bureau, CCB, to urgently investigate the link between INEC, Superflux and Ogun state governorship election for possible prosecution.

This is according to the petition separately sent to the different agencies on Monday, July 31, 2023, by HURIWA through Prof. Mike A. A. Ozekhome, SAN, its Chief Counsel and Solicitor.

Superflux international Ltd, Superflux is a Nigerian Limited Liability private company founded and propelled by Tokunbo Talabi, the current Secretary to the Government of Ogun State, SSG headed by Dapo Abiodun, and a leading security printing company duly accredited by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Central Bank of Zambia, and other West African Central Banks, with registration No. 275594.

Through the petition, HURIWA was able to provide glaring evidence on how the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, engaged, Superflux International Ltd, as one of the ballot paper printers for the 2023 election.

However, HURIWA revealed that while Talabi was printing the originals of the Ballot Papers for INEC contract, using his company, Superflux as the vehicle, during the March 18, 2023 Governorship election, he also allegedly printed extra ballots, which were later used to undermine the said Ogun State Governorship election in favour of Dapo Abiodun, the sitting governor.

HURIWA also revealed that these revelations form part of the ongoing challenge to the governorship outcome before the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State, accounting for the many cases of multiple ballot papers with the same serial numbers; whilst there are ballot papers whose serial numbers are at variance with what were deployed in the said Ogun State for the governorship election.

It noted that these were also said to have accounted for over voting in many polling units, with alleged ballot box stuffing as the order of the day.

“Many of those ballot papers were believed by our client to have emanated from Tokunbo Talabi’s Superflux company.

Parts of the allegations include that Talabi, who also is the president and CEO of Superflux International Ltd; our client informed us that the ……….?

It therefore prayed the various agencies to immediately investigate and possible prosecute Tokunbo Talabi, and Superflux International Ltd.

“We believe that the above allegations by our client are weighty enough to merit your urgent attention. There is the need for thorough investigation and possible prosecution, where necessary, as the allegations if found true, have greatly undermined the 2023 Ogun State Governorship election and our electoral process. All these constitute a subversion of the 1999 Constitution of Nigerian, other extant laws, our National ethos and the code of conduct that governs public officers in Nigeria.

“We therefore demand on behalf of our client, immediate investigation and possible prosecution of the said Tokunbo Talabi; and Superflux International Ltd. You owe this to our client and to Nigerians as the agency in charge of financial crimes, to carry out this your public duty. We believe that seven (7) days from the date of this letter are sufficient to carry out this your statutory function.

“TAKE NOTICE that if you fail, refuse and/or neglect to accede to our above modest demands, we shall be left with no option than to approach a court of competent jurisdiction through an order of Mandamus to compel you to carry out your statutory functions.

FACTS IN SUPPORT OF THESE CLAIMS

“On the 19th of August, 2020, INEC paid the sum of N47, 449,290.90 four times on the same day into Superflux Access Bank account, Victoria Island branch, with the account number: 0001990557

“This sum was allegedly transferred from CBN’s INEC Electoral account with the description: NFT/CBN/BO/INEC Electoral Account/ M2867/PMT 4 SS Ballot P.

“Similarly, on the 23rd of June, 2020, INEC credited another Superflux’s corporate account with Access Bank: 0001598513, with the sum of N98, 898581.80. This sum was said to have been quickly moved to the first mentioned account No. 0001990557. The transaction description was the same as above, i.e, NFT/CBN/BO/INEC Electoral Account/ M2867/PMT 4 SS Ballot P.

“Our client maintains that because Tokunbo Talabi is an interested party, being the SSG to Dapo Abiodun (the Governor), who is also an interested party as his election was being challenged, they all compromised the Gubernatorial election with overvoting through his company’s printed excess ballot papers.

“Our client informed us that Tokunbo Talabi’s BVN is still attached to the accounts till date; and so cannot claim any prior detachment or resignation from the ownership and Directorship of the said Superflux company that printed the ballot papers.

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