By Matthew Don
Former chairman of Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Maurice Iwu was Thursday arraigned before Justice (Prof) Chuka Austin Obiozor siting at the Federal High Court, Lagos.
Iwu was docked by the Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC) on a four count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N1.2 billion.
He pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
After taking a plea, Iwu’s counsel Ahmed Raji (SAN) informed the court that he has filed application for bail of his client. Responding, EFCC prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo admitted receipt of the application but said that he needs time to respond to the application.
In view of Oyedepo’s submission, Justice Obiozor adjourned the matter till Friday( tomorrow) to hear the bail application while ordering Iwu to remain in EFCC custody.
EFCC’s acting spokesperson, Tony Orilade, confirmed the planned arraignment in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.
He, however, did not disclose when the former INEC chairman would appear in court.
But it was learnt that Iwu would be arraigned at a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on a four-count charge bordering on money laundering.
The former chairman is alleged to have between December 2014 and March 2015, aided the concealment of the sum of N1.2 billion.
The said sum was in the bank account of Bioresources Institute of Nigeria Limited domiciled in the United Bank for Africa, (UBA) Plc.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says Iwu laundered the said N1.2 billion in 2014.
The anti graft agency said Iwu was an active connivance with former Petroleum minister, Diezani Madueke, in laundering the huge sums of money traced to her.
Iwu will likely be arranged before Justice Obiozor at the federal high court in Lagos.