A former INEC officer, Christian Nwosu on Thursday told a Federal High Court in Lagos that he was not bribed by former Petroleum Minister, Diezani Alison-Madueke to rig the 2015 general elections for the PDP.
He, however, admitted that the N30 million he collected from her was for “logistics”.
Nwosu, a former Administrative Secretary of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Kwara State, spoke while testifying in a trial-within-trial before Justice Mohammed Idris.
Nwosu was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside another official, Tijani Bashir, for allegedly receiving N30 million bribe from Alison-Madueke.
Speaking under cross-examination by the EFCC prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, Nwosu claimed he did not personally benefit from the money.
“I did not personally benefit from the N30 million; the ad hoc staff benefited because the elections went smoothly with the logistics support”, he said.
“The money was not given to me by way of cheque; we were asked to go to the bank to collect it.
“No cheque was given to me at the bank. I just signed a document at the bank which confirmed the receipt of the money.
“I did not instruct the bank to transfer the money to any account because it was not for me but for the coordinator who is to ensure that the money gets to the ad hoc staff.”
Nwosu said N13 million and N17 million was paid into his accounts on April 7 and April 13, 2015 respectively.
Justice Idris adjourned continuation of trial until November 15.
