Ex-INEC chairman Prof. Maurice Iwu arrives court for his trial

[Edoman]

Ex-INEC chairman Prof. Maurice Iwu arrives court for his trial






Prof. Maurice Iwu, the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) arrived the Federal High Court in Lagos by 9.30 am today August 8, for the commencement of his trial for allegedly laundering N1.2billion.
 
The former electoral commission boss accused of being involved in the N23.29billion poll bribery scandal which characterised the 2015 election, was led into the court by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). 
 
The case is to be presided upon by Justice Chuka Obiozor and it was further learnt that Prof. Maurice Iwu's counsel is Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Ahmed Raji, the former National Security Adviser (NSA) Col. Sambo Dasuki's lawyer. 

by Linda Ikeji 

[Edoman]

N1.2bn fraud: Court orders EFCC to detain ex-INEC Chairman, Maurice Iwu






The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to detain former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Maurice Iwu till Friday August 9th for hearing of his bail application.
 
Iwu was arraigned before the court this morning by the EFCC on a four-count charge of concealment, fraud and money laundering of N1.2billion.
 
In the charge sheet filed against the former INEC Chairman, the EFCC alleged that Professor Iwu aided the concealment of the sum of N1, 203,000,000 between December 2014 and March 2015. The said sum was in the bank account of Bio-resources Institute of Nigeria Limited domiciled in the United Bank for Africa, UBA Plc. 
 
When the charges were read to him, Iwu pleaded not guilty.
 
The presiding Judge, Professor Chuka Obiozor adjourned the case till tomorrow for the hearing of his bail application and ordered his detention in EFCC’s custody.
 
He was appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission in June 2005, and was removed from office in April 2010.

by Linda Ikeji at 

[Edoman]

Federal high court grants former INEC chairman, Maurice Iwu N1 billion bail






A Federal High Court in Lagos has granted former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Maurice Iwu bail in the sum of N1 billion.  
 
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, had on Thursday arraigned Iwu before a Federal High Court in Ikoyi for allegedly laundering of N1.2 billion. Iwu, who has been interrogated by the EFCC, was alleged to have been involved in the N23.29 billion poll bribery scandal which characterized the 2015 poll.
 
The presiding Judge, Professor Chuka Obiozor had fixed Friday for hearing of his bail application. The judge granted Iwu bail in the sum of N1 billion with two sureties in like sum. One of the sureties must be a landed property owner in Lagos with evidence of tax clearance and must be a resident of Lagos, while he or she must attach his or statement of account.  
 
The second surety must be a civil servant on grade level 16 or a professor and must attach his or her statement of account. Iwu was alleged to have between December 2014 and March 2015, aided the concealment of the sum of N1, 203,000,000 (One Billion, Two Hundred and Three Million Naira)  The said sum was in the bank account of Bio-resources Institute of Nigeria Limited domiciled in the United Bank for Africa, UBA Plc.  
 
The cash in question was about the  election bribery scandal during the 2015 general election.  Iwu pleaded not guilty to the charges. Hamed Raji, SAN appeared for him, while EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi oyedepo is prosecuting the case.

by Linda Ikeji at 09/08