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The trial of former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral
Commission, (INEC), Prof. Maurice Iwu, for alleged N1.23billion fraud at a
Federal High Court, Lagos, was stalled on Monday due to the absence of the
trial judge.
Justice Nicholas Oweibo had on October 24
picked Monday commencement of trial but he was unavoidably absent when the
matter came up for hearing. Iwu is arraigned on a three-count charge of fraud
and money laundering by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). He
was first arraigned on August 8 before Justice Chuka Obiozor, who granted him
bail in the sum of N1billion. Following the transfer of the case to Justice
Oweibo, Iwu was re-arraigned by the EFCC on October 24. The ex-INEC chairman
had pleaded not guilty to the charges and Justice Oweibo adjourned till Monday
for the trial to commence. Sequel to the absence of the judge, the case was
further adjourned till February 27, 2020.
EFCC had alleged that between December 2014
and March 27, 2015, Iwu “aided the concealment of N1.23billion in the account
of Bioresources Institute of Nigeria Limited with number 1018603119, domiciled
in the United Bank for Africa.” The Commission said he “ought to have
reasonably known that the N1.23billion formed part of proceeds of an unlawful
act, to wit: fraud.” The EFCC prosecuting counsel, Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, told the
court that the ex-INEC chairman acted contrary to sections 18(a) and 15 (2) (a)
of the Money Laundering ((Prohibition) Act 2011 and was liable to be punished
under Section 15(3) of the same Act.
Source: Onozure Dania (Vanguard)
