Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA) has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFFC), Independent Corrupt Practices & Other Related Offences Commission, (ICPC)and Chairman Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), to investigate and possibly prosecute the Secretary to Ogun State government Chief Tokunbo Talabi for allegedly printing excess Ballot Papers that was used to falsified result of Ogun State 2023 Governorship Election.
The association in a letter to the Acting Executive Chairman of EFCC , Chairman of CCB and ICPC through its counsel chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN) stated that
if the agencies failed to investigate and prosecute Talabi within seven days it would approach the court for an order of mandamus to compel them to prosecute.
It stated that it would take the action because the link in the payments made by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to Superflux International Ltd the printer of Ballot Papers that was used to undermined the Ogun State Governorship election in favour of Governor Dapo Abiodun was clear and incriminating.
“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 Central Banks. With registration No. 275594, Superflux has its address at No. 3, Vori Close, Off ACME Road, Ikeja, Lagos.
“Our client informed us that Dapo Abiodun’s SSG, Tokunbo Talabi, is the president and CEO of Superflux International Ltd; is a trained physiotherapist and banker of many years experience, and holds positions in boards of several companies.
“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, form part of the ongoing 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 over voting in many polling units, with alleged ballot box stuffings as the order of the day. Many of those ballot papers were believed by our client to have emanated from Tokunbo Talabi’s Superflux company.
FACTS IN SUPPORT OF THESE CLAIMS
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: 0001598513, 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 over voting 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.
OTHER LINKED ACCOUNTS
Other Superflux accounts linked to Tokunbo Talabi which our client insists must be investigated based on Superflux’s involvement, are:
- Polaris: Allen Avenue branch. Account Number: 4090893181
- Stambic, Oba Akran Branch: 000487511
- Standard Chartered, Branch 04900: 10000058696
- Sterling Bank, Aromire branch Ikeja: 0003058731
- UBA: 1004322521
- Union Bank, Stallion Plaza branch: 0040353673
- Unity Bank, HQ Office: 12764744. 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 a 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. Attached herewith and cumulatively marked as HURIWA 1 are some of the bank transactions above referred to, for your perusal and necessary action.
OUR HUMBLE PRAYERS
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 electoral process. All these constitute a subversion of the 1999 Constitution of Nigerian, other extant laws, our National ethos and the code of conduct that governs public officers in Nigeria.
We therefore demand on behalf of our client, immediate investigation and possible prosecution of the said Chief Tokunbo Talabi; and Superflux International Ltd. You owe this to our client and to Nigerians as the agency in charge of financial crimes, to carry out this your public duty. We believe that seven (7) days from the date of this letter are sufficient to carry out this your statutory function.
“TAKE NOTICE that if you fail, refuse and/or neglect to accede to our above modest demands, we shall be left with no option than to approach a court of competent jurisdiction through an order of Mandamus to compel you to carry out your statutory functions.
We believe you will act timeously and urgently.”