Court remands ex-INEC chair, Iwu over ‘N1.2bn fraud’

Court remands ex-INEC chair, Iwu over ‘N1.2bn fraud’

A federal high court in Lagos, on Thursday, remanded Maurice Iwu, former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in custody

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A federal high court in Lagos, on Thursday, remanded Maurice Iwu, former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), in custody over allegations of fraud. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had earlier today, arraigned Iwu before the court on four count charges bothering on N1.23 billion fraud.

The former INEC chairman is alleged to have between December 2014 and March 2015, aided the concealment of the said amount. The said sum was in the bank account of Bioresources Institute of Nigeria Limited domiciled in the United Bank for Africa, (UBA) PLC.

The money was believed to be part of the N23.29b slush fund allegedly shared by former petroleum minister, Diezani Allison-Madueke, to influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential elections. Iwu was fingered as one of the beneficiaries of the fund, including some INEC officials who are facing trial.

An umbrella organisation for over 150 anti-graft groups, the Civil Society Network Against Corruption, had earlier asked the EFCC to investigate and prosecute the ex-INEC boss, Resident Electoral Commissioners and Administrative Secretaries who took bribes during the 2015 general polls.

Iwu, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.