Three staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Awka, Anambra State, have been charged to court in connection with theft of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) meant for some communities in Ogbaru Local Government Area, including all the PVCs for Akili-Ogidi/Obeagwe Ward.

The Akili-Ogidi/Obeagwe Ward is the area where the member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene, hails from.

News Express learnt on the night of September 2, 2014, some hoodlums broke into the INEC office at Atani, headquarters of Ogbaru Local Government Area, and carted away PVCs for some communities in the area. Among political office aspirants, Hon. Ogene was the worst hit by the theft as he is nursing the ambition to seek re-election in next year’s general elections.

The three INEC staff arraigned at the Atani Magistrate Court 2 in connection with the theft are the security staff of the commission on duty in the night the incident took place as well as Anene Nwokedi (46), Victor Okei (38) and Fredrick Ijoma (43).

According to Charge Sheet No. MGB/140/2014, the accused persons were arraigned for “office breaking and stealing, thereby committed an offence punishable under section 495(a) of Criminal Code Cap.36, Vol.1, revised law of Anambra state of Nigeria, 1991 as amended.”

They were also charged for breaking and entering into the office of the Electoral Officer (EO), an offence punishable under section 381 of the same Criminal Code. Another charge is for stealing “some quantities of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) totaling about 8,367 belonging to some communities in Ogbaru Local Government Area which were all termed properties of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and thereby committed offence punishable under section 353(5) of the same Criminal Code.”

The accused were further charged under section 81 of the Criminal Code for negligence and failing to prevent the carting away of the PVCs. They pleaded not guilty to all the charges as read out by the police prosecutor.

The presiding Chief Magistrate, Nwabasili granted the accused persons bail while the case was adjourned to November 5, 2014 for further hearing.

•Photo shows Anambra Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof. Chukwemeka Onukogu.