The Independent National Electoral Commission is expected to spend over N1.9bn on legal fees and related matters as aggrieved candidates challenge the outcomes of various elections in court.

Atiku, a former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, and others have already challenged the result of the elections in court.

The information is contained in INEC’s 2019 Election Project Plan which was obtained by The PUNCH.


The document reads in part, “N1, 796, 547, 500.00. Professional fees and expenses for external solicitors to be engaged by the commission to represent it at the tribunals and appeals; honorarium for legal officers that represent the commission at election petitions and appeals.

“Analysis of fees: Governorship petition at N4.5m X 20; senatorial petition at N3m X 45; House of Reps atN2.7m X105; state House of Assembly N1.350m X 244. Honorarium to in-house lawyers is seven per cent of fees payable to external solicitors.”


Of the sum, N6m was spent on pre-election cases which are disputes that arose from the conduct of party primaries.

The commission will also spend a separate N26.5m on monitoring the hearing of election petitions and appeals across the 36 states and the FCT.

The sum will cover duty tour allowance and transport costs for the monitors at the hearing of election petitions and appeals as well as the compilation and printing of reports of petitions and appeals.


The electoral umpire also budgeted a separate N99.5m for the compilation and production of updated electoral legal framework including the code of conduct for external lawyers and code of conduct for staff.

A separate N25m will be spent on the prosecution of electoral offenders.

Yakubu had revealed in January that the commission battled 1, 134 legal cases arising from election disputes in 2015, 2016 and 2017.

Source : https://punchng.com/inec-budgets-n1-9bn-to-defend-buhari-others-mandate-in-court/

It would have been better to resume your Biafra or death National Anthem protest than peddling this fake news up and down

hmm mmm mmm. many of u dont know that the only sin atiku committed was that, he dont allow OBJ for third term agenda. but to make the matter worst, 70% of nigerians are illetrate, they believe only what they read online or news paper. for Christ sake, atiku was never a president, yet u are saying he is corrupt. yet, u never charge him for once to court, but using media to tarnish his name. or is he superior to be charge ni? politics!!!!! a game that turn graduate to illetrate. they will know the truth, but will leave it because of selfish interest.

Adams Oshiomole right now
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You see these country eeh

I mercy for the upcoming generations

Abeg i must leave this country for the sake of my unborn children.

.

Full details here:

www.netfreebies.us/2019/03/inec-budgets-n19bn-to-defend-buharis.html

EFCC should probe these INEC officials after elections. But I doubt if they will since they declared Buhari winner

Afamed:
It would have been better to resume your Biafra or death National Anthem protest than peddling this fake news up and down

Calm down

Afamed:
It would have been better to resume your Biafra or death National Anthem protest than peddling this fake news up and down

Just for once in your life call a spade a spade. Be a person of honour for once. Say that INEC is crazy for such demand. You must not be a zombie all your life!!

Why? Politicians should have being made to cover such expenses that relate to court matters. In fact their should be some burdens that should be bare by political parties not the election umpire

Hii

Just say budget for their legal department. Any case against a candidate they declared winner is a case against them too.

INEC IS BUHARI, BUHARI IS INEC


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Lawyers food is ready come n eat!

If the elections were conducted properly and fairly, this huge amount of money would've been put into more important things.
God forbid I raise my kids in this hellhole

Woww... OkeyLinks

eben1marketer:
I don't get it. Is it in there place to do so?

Who will Atiku sue to court? INEC or who?

Is it not INEC that will defend the results they declared when Atiku and other losing candidates take their cases to court?

INEC wan still rig court hearing?? useless country

4year will be like 40 years, my northern brothers voted PMB but they are still sad.
As for me Buhari Or Atiku doesn't change anything, I was only fighting for younger generation.
Let's Enjoy Next level

I've always seen INEC as complete scam.... nd they've failed to prove me wrong for one day

Lawyers don hammer in this election

Shebi they came to this life to chop money? Adhoc staff training fee them don chop am yet e never do them. Rubbish!

princegeo:
You see these country eeh

I mercy for the upcoming generations

To all Nigerian parants the best investment today get your children out of this country, you will age graciously.

Prof. Sugar Cube Equality should make all the money he can make now because his reputation no longer worth a pinch of salt home and abroad.

Ok

princeade86:
hmm mmm mmm. many of u dont know that the only sin atiku committed was that, he dont allow OBJ for third term agenda. but to make the matter worst, 70% of nigerians are illetrate, they believe only what they read online or news paper. for Christ sake, atiku was never a president, yet u are saying he is corrupt. yet, u never charge him for once to court, but using media to tarnish his name. or is he superior to be charge ni? politics!!!!! a game that turn graduate to illetrate. they will know the truth, but will leave it because of selfish interest.

You're not an Illiterate but you couldn't spell "illiterate" not once but twice. Tell me ain't you far worse than the 70% of Nigerians you dubbed illiterate who probably would've spelt that correctly?.

The headline is deceptive. Legally, INEC budget money to take care post-election tribunals and court cases. Putting Buhari's name to give an impression that INEC is supporting PMB is just irresponsible journalism..