Operatives from the Sokoto State Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday recovered money to the tune of N65,548,000 from an office belonging to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Gusau, Zamfara State.

The money made up of 81 bundles of N1000 notes, 97 bundle of N500 notes and 96 pieces of N500 and reportedly stacked in two fire proof safes was discovered during a search conducted in the offices of the HOD Accounts and Cashier of  INEC in Zamfara State.

According to the anti-graft agency, the money is suspected to have been illegally deducted from funds released to INEC’s  Zamfara Office to cater for the rent of canopies, tables and chairs and funds for Registration Area Centres (RAC) as well as for the movement of men and materials to polling units.

The raid followed a petition by one of the INEC ad-hoc staff during the 2019 presidential and gubernatorial elections in Zamfara State who alleged that the Adhoc INEC officials were denied payment of their N6,000 movement allowance  for each of  the two elections.

The EFCC added that the suspects would be arraigned in court as soon as investigation is completed.