The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is yet to prosecute 197 electoral offenders several months after the 2023 general elections, according to reports. INEC had announced its intention to prosecute 215 individuals out of the 774 arrested for various electoral offenses during the 2023 polls, with the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) offering pro bono legal services for the prosecution.
The offenses included dereliction of duty, criminal conspiracy, disorderly conduct at the election, possession of weapons, destruction of election materials, political thuggery, electoral violence, snatching of ballot boxes, and stealing of sensitive election materials, among others. INEC has classified 197 of these cases as electoral offenses, while 18 others, including murder cases, were returned to the police as they did not fall under electoral offenses as defined by the Electoral Act, 2022.
While the cases are being handled by 197 NBA lawyers, approximately 19 cases related to financial crimes will be handled by legal officers from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and INEC, based on investigations conducted by the EFCC. One case file was forwarded to INEC by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission (ICPC).
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However, the commencement of prosecutions has been delayed, as the NBA lawyers appointed to handle these electoral offenses have not yet received letters of instruction from INEC. It is hoped that these letters will be issued soon to initiate the legal proceedings.
Additionally, with off-cycle elections scheduled for November 11 in Kogi, Bayelsa, and Imo states, there may be further electoral offenses that require investigation and prosecution.
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