Ibadan — Three officials of the docked Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and two others who were caught while allegedly engaged in illegal duties at the home of Dr. Saka Balogun, Chief of Staff to the PDP gubernatorial aspirant in Oyo State , Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, have been docked by the police at Ogbomosho .

The five suspects had been discovered to engaged in illegal registration of prospective voters for the April polls on January 21, 2006.

Both Akala and the aide in whose house the suspects were caught had since denied the act insisting that the action was a media creation.

The police however had hectic time having the prosecution of the INEC officials under firm grip as thugs numbering about 150 invaded the court premises partially disrupting proceedings. It took the intervention of the District Crime Officer, Mr. Shittu Umaru, to control the thugs.

He brought reinforcements of armed policemen to the court premises to save journalists and other officials of the court from the irate youths. The accused, Gabriel Oyebile (16), Atiba Muyiwa (16), Alausa Saheed (16), Samuel (surname unknown) (24), Ajadi Oluwapomile were brought before a Chief Magistrates' Court sitting in Ogbomoso by the police in Oyo State.

They were accused of carrying out illegal registration of voters in Akala aide residence. According to the prosecutor, Mr. Fatai Adepoju," the five accused, who included three INEC officials, a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and one relative of Balogun", were found with the INEC electronic voters registration machine performing illegal duty." The prosecutor, who brought a two-count charge against the accused, told the court that "the INEC officials breached official duty code".

He said action was contrary to section 124(1) and 130(1) of the Electoral Act, which he said was punishable under the law. The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the two charges brought against them. Counsel for the five accused, Mr. Abiodun Ogunjimi, pleaded for their bail, saying that they had been in police custody since January 21 when they were found performing the alleged illegal duty.

Trial Chief Magistrate, Miss O.M. Ebeloku, in granting them bail, said she was doing so in accordance with the Electoral Act. The bail conditions were the presentation of two sureties, N150,000 and their passport size photographs. The case was adjourned to February 7 for mention.