There was tension during Saturday’s bye election in Dass Constituency of Bauchi State as offcials of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detained a former Head of Service (HoS) of the state, Mr Abdon Dalla Gin for over five hours.
The problem started when the DSS and EFCC officials stopped Gin-a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) as he was leaving his Social Welfare Bon Dot polling unit shortly after casting his vote at about 9:30 am and took him to the police station.
The former HoS was initially approached by some youths who had followed him to his car to greet him after granting a short interview to journalists on his impression of the election.
Gin, who is currently a Special Adviser on Civil Service Mattters to Bauchi governor was asked a few questions by the EFCC offcials who seized his identity card and searched his car.
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They found an undisclosed amount of money inside his car boot and took him to the station.
He was taken to the police division in Dass before he was granted bail at about 2:15 pm. At the station, the DSS offcials took out bundles of N500 naira notes and asked the former HOS to place them on his palms.
He was directed to move towards the counter inside and asked to drop the money on the counter and place his hand on it.
“Place your hands on your money,” one of the officials who was among those that brought him to the police station in Dass said, taking a good position cross the counter, took photos of Gin using his mobile handset while some followed suit.
When some journalists inquired whether it was legal to take the former HOS pictures and what charges levelled against him, one of them said it is a routine not meant for the public.
Speaking with journalists on the issue, Barrister Multar Abubakar, a top PDP lawyer, said Gin was arrested on suspicious of having money in the boot of the car on the day of election.
He said, “Vote buying is a situation where one person gives money to another. But this is a situation where they stopped him when he was driving his car and they saw money in his boot. He was a former head of service of Bauchi State. He is farmer, high profile personality in the state and is capable of having such of money.
“The money is just around N500,000. The matter is still being investigated. On the leaked picture the operatives of the EFCC are angry that the picture leaked because they did not know how the picture was taken. It was in the process of removing the money from the boot that the picture was snapped.
” The operatives confirm that he was not sharing money to amyone. He has been granted bail and the case is under investigation. ”
Police Commssioner Tanko Lawal Jimeta said he received report that the top government official was brought to the police station in Dass, saying that the Electoral law gives power to not just security officials but even the citizens to prevent the occurrence of electoral crimes during voting.
Jimeta however, emphasised that suspicious of vote buying must be proven.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Dass local government area who was at the police station , Mohammed Suleiman, expressed shock at the conduct of the DSS and EFCC officials, saying the money inside the boot of the car driven by Gin was for the allowances of party agents.
He expressed surprise that a high profile citizen like Gin who is currently Special Adviser on Civil Service Matters would be detained without proof of perpetuating illegal activity.
