By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
Human Rights lawyer, Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN has given the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) one week to commence investigation of Chief Tokunbo Talabi, the current Secretary to the Government of Ogun State (SSG).
Ozekhome based the call on facts handed over to him by the Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA) alleging sundry infractions in the printing of ballot papers used for the 2023 gubernatorial election in Ogun State.
In in the petition dated 31st July 2023 and titled “The Link Between INEC, SUPERFLUX Intl Ltd, Ballot Printing and he Ogon State Governorship Election: Our Petition For Urgent Investigation and Prosecution”, made several allegations against the company which it claimed is owned by the current Ogun State SSG.
In particular, Ozekhome stated that Chief Talabi’s company colluded with INEC to print excessive ballot papers for the 2023 Governorship Election in Ogun State, which was used to rig the re-election of Governor Dapo Abiodun on March 18, 2023.
The petition also alleged conflict of interest as the owner of Superflux, Chief Tokunbo Talabi, is the current to the Government of Ogun State (SSG).
He stated that the alleged over printing of INEC ballot papers by Superflux Ltd was used to undermine the said Ogun State Governorship election in favour of Abiodun, the sitting Governor.
“Our client states that Superflux international Ltd (Superflux) is a Nigerian limited liability private company founded and propelled by Chief Tokunbo Talabi, the current Secretary to the Government of Ogun State (SSG) headed by Dr Dapo Abiodun.
“Superflux is a leading security printing company duly accredited by the Central BANK OF Nigeria (CBN), Central Bank of Zambia, and other West African
“Our client states that it was generally believed that while Superflux was printing the originals for INEC contract, it also allegedly printed extra ballots which were later used to undermine the said Ogun State Governorship election in favour of Dapo Abiodun, the sitting Governor.
“Our client informed us that the said Chief Talabi printed Ballot Papers for Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), using his company, Superflux as the vehicle, during the March 18, 2023.
“Our client informed us that there was much movement of ballot papers during the March 18, 2023 Governorship elections.
“Our client states that it was generally believed that while Superflux was printing the originals for INEC contract, it also allegedly printed extra ballots which were later used to undermine the said Ogun State Governorship election in favour of Dapo Abiodun, the sitting Governor.
“These discrepancies, our client informed us, forms part of the on-going challenge to the governorship outcome before the Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
“Our client states that there are many cases of multiple ballot papers with the same serial numbers; whilst there are ballot papers whose serial numbers are at variance with what were deployed in the said Ogun State for the Governorship election. “These were also said to have accounted for overvoting in many polling units, with alleged ballot box stuffings as the order of the day.
“On the 19th of August, 2020, INEC paid the sum of N47, 449,290.90 four times on the same day into Superflux Access Bank account, Victoria Island branch, with the account number: 0001990557
“This sum was allegedly transferred from CBN’s INEC Electoral account with the description: NFT/CBN/BO/INEC Electoral Account/ M2867/PMT 4 SS Ballot P.
“Similarly, on the 23rd of June, 2020, INEC credited another Superflux’s corporate account with Access Bank: 00015985 13, with the sum of N98, 898581.80.
“This sum was said to have been quickly moved to the first mentioned account No. 0001990557. The transaction description was the same as above, i.e, NFT/CBN/BO/INEC Electoral Account/ M2867/PMT 4 SS Ballot P.
“Our client maintains that because Tokunbo Talabi is an interested party, being the SSG to Dapo Abiodun (the Governor), who is also an interested party as his election was being challenged, they all compromised the Gubernatorial election with Overvoting through his company’s printed excess ballot papers.
“Our client informed us that Tokunbo Talabi’s BVN is still attached to the accounts till date: and so cannot claim any prior detachment or resignation from the ownership and Directorship of the said Superflux company that printed the ballot papers.
“Our client informed us that barely three months into Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration in 2019, precisely on the 11th of August, Tokunbo Talabi opened a Superflux International DSRA (Domiciliary account) with Access Bank, Victoria Island branch with Account Number: 1222529704, from which many transactions were located,
“For instance, on the 6th of April, 2020, he allegedly made singular transaction of seven hundred million naira (N700m) into a property company, Stonestack Limited.
“From another Access Bank account: 0001598513, with the Victoria Island branch, Talabi was alleged to have transferred the sum of $500,000 to a Logistics company (Speedwings) 8 times, amounting to $4m (four million dollars). Though these transactions were undated, however, some of the last set of the transactions had to do with some COVID-19 matters which was carried out on the 4th of June, 2020.
“We believe that the above allegations by our client are weighty enough to merit your urgent attention.
“There is the need for thorough investigation and possible prosecution, where necessary, as the allegations if found true, have greatly undermined the 2023 Ogun State Governorship election and our,” Prof. Ozekhome stated.
