By-election: Police, DSS arrest man with N25m cash for ‘vote-buying’ in Kaduna

The Kaduna police command says its operatives have arrested a man with N25.9 million cash allegedly for vote-buying in the state’s by-election.

In a statement on Saturday, Mansir Hassan, spokesperson for the police command in Kaduna, said the arrest was made in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS).

Hassan said the suspect, identified as Shehu Aliyu Patangi, was picked up at about 3:30am at a hotel along Turunku Road in Kaduna metropolis.

He said cash totalling N25,963,000 was recovered from Patangi and is believed to have been set aside to induce voters during the polls.

“At about 0330hrs today, we arrested one Shehu Aliyu Patangi at a popular hotel located along Turunku Road in Kaduna metropolis,” the statement reads.

“We recovered a total cash sum of twenty-five million, nine hundred and sixty-three thousand naira (₦25,963,000) from the suspect; the money is believed to have been earmarked for inducing voters to compromise the electoral process.”

“Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect had planned to use the said amount to bribe eligible voters.

“On interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime and pleaded for leniency.”

Rabiu Muhammad, commissioner of police in Kaduna, commended the DSS for the synergy and quick intervention that led to the arrest.

Muhammad warned that anyone who attempts to undermine the electoral process, “regardless of status”, would face the full weight of the law.

He assured residents of Kaduna that security agencies are committed to safeguarding the elections before, during, and after the exercise.