Police under pressure to drop charges against persons arrested for allegedly printing fake ballot papers.
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Port Harcourt—Rivers State Police Command, yesterday, confirmed the arrest of three persons for allegedly printing fake ballot papers for next month’s re-run legislative election in the state.
This came as Governor Nyesom Wike called on Police authorities in the state to ensure that all those directly or indirectly linked to the persons arrested on Saturday in Port Harcourt for allegedly printing fake result sheets and other sensitive election materials ahead of the rerun elections in the state were prosecuted.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed December 10 to conduct the election in the state. Mr Nnamdi Omoni, the Public Relations Officer of the command, said the suspects were arrested on Saturday at D/Line area of Port Harcourt. He said personnel of the Criminal Investigation Department, CID, made the arrest. “I can confirm the arrest of three suspects.
The matter is with us and the Commissioner of Police has ordered discreet investigation. I can assure you that it is being given adequate attention and at the end of investigation, we will come out with our position,” he said.
Omoni said the state CID was currently handling the matter while the command would make its findings known at the end of the investigation.
He urged the people to give the police useful information that would assist it fight crime in the state. Meanwhile, the governor alleged that the Police were already under severe pressure to drop charges against those already in its custody.
Governor Wike said: “I made sure they videoed the documents to ensure the evidence is not killed or destroyed before handing them over to the police.
The police are now saying they are under pressure not to charge the suspects to court.” He claimed that the printer was a member of the All Progressives Congress, APC, saying, “We will show you his APC membership card.” The APC had earlier in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Chris Finebone, accused the governor and the PDP of stage managing the incident, insisting that no member of the APC was part of the alleged fraud.
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