The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday re-arraigned former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Maurice Iwu, before a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Iwu was arraigned before Justice I. Nicholas Oweibo on a four-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N1, 203, 000,000.00.
The defendant was earlier arraigned on August 8, 2019 before Justice Chuka Obiozor, a vacation Judge, but the matter was re-assigned to Justice Oweibo for trial.
Iwu was said to have aided the concealment of the sum of N1, 203, 00,000.00 in the account of Bio-resources Institute of Nigeria (number 1018603119) domiciled in the United Bank for Africa( UBA) Plc between December 2014 and March 2015.
Count 2 of the charge read: “That you, Professor Maurice Mmaduakolam Iwu, between December 2014 and March 27, 2015, in Nigeria, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, procured Bio-resources Institute of Nigeria(BION) Limited to retain the aggregate sum of N1, 203,00,000.00( One Billion, Two Hundred and Three Million Naira) in Bio-resources Institute of Nigeria, (BION) Limited’s Account No. 1018603119 domiciled in the United Bank for Africa Plc, which sum you reasonably ought to have known forms part of proceeds of unlawful act, to wit: fraud and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Sections 18 (c), 15(2) (c) of the Money Laundering Prohibition Act , 2011, as amended, and punishable under Section (5) (3) of the same Act.”
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The defendant however pleaded not guilty to the charges.
In his remark, prosecution counsel, Bilkisu Buhari, asked the court for a trial date.
Meanwhile, counsel to the defendant, A.A Usman, informed the court that his client has been enjoying the bail granted him by Justice Obiozor upon his first arraignment. He therefore urged the court to allow the defendant to continue with the bail terms granted.
Usman further informed the court that he had filed a motion challenging its jurisdiction to entertain the case.
Justice Oweibo adjourned the matter to November 25, 2019 for hearing of the motion.