The combined team of operatives of the Kaduna State police Commands and that of Department of State Services (DSS) have arrested a man with N25.9 million cash allegedly for vote-buying in the state’s by-election, reports thegazellenews.com.
The Kaduna State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Mansir Hassan, who confirmed the development, said the suspect, identified as Shehu Aliyu Patangi, was picked up at about 3:30am at a hotel along Turunku Road in Kaduna metropolis.
“At about 0330hrs today, we arrested one Shehu Aliyu Patangi at a popular hotel located along Turunku Road in Kaduna metropolis,” the statement reads.
“We recovered a total cash sum of twenty-five million, nine hundred and sixty-three thousand naira (₦25,963,000) from the suspect; the money is believed to have been earmarked for inducing voters to compromise the electoral process.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect had planned to use the said amount to bribe eligible voters.
According to the state police image-maker, the cash totalling N25.963 million was recovered from Patangi and is believed to have been set aside to induce voters during the polls.
On interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime but pleaded for leniency.
The state Commissioner of Police in Kaduna, Rabiu Muhammad, commended the DSS for the synergy and quick intervention that led to the arrest.
Muhammad warned that anyone who attempts to undermine the electoral process, “regardless of status”, would face the full weight of the law.
The state police boss assured residents of Kaduna that security agencies are committed to safeguarding the elections before, during, and after the exercise.
