A former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Maurice Iwu, has requested Justice Nicholas Oweibo of a Federal High Court in Lagos to transfer his N1.23 billion fraud case to Abuja, in consideration of his age.
His lawyer, Ahmed Raji, told the judge on Thursday that at age 70, his client was too old to be coming from Abuja to Lagos to stand trial.
Mr Raji added that the transactions leading to the charges against the ex INEC boss took place in Abuja.
The prosecuting counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Rotimi Oyedepo, disagreed with the request, saying the witnesses to be called are in Lagos and Ibadan.
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Mr Oyedepo also cited Section 98 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, stating that only the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court had the power to direct the transfer of a case.
Justice Oweibo adjourned till March 6 for ruling.
The former INEC boss was first arraigned on August 8 before Justice Chuka Obiozor, also of the Federal High Court in Lagos, who granted him bail of N1 billion.
Iwu, however, maintained his earlier stance by pleading not guilty.
Justice Oweibo permitted him to continue on the N1 billion bail earlier granted him by Justice Obiozor.
EFCC alleges that Iwu committed the offences from December 2014 to March 27, 2015.
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“The defendant aided the concealment of N1.23 billion in the account of Bioresources Institute of Nigeria Ltd. with number 1018603119, domiciled in the United Bank for Africa.
“He ought to have reasonably known that the N1.23 billion formed part of the proceeds of fraud,” Oyedepo had said.
The alleged offences contravene Sections 15(2) and 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011, and is punishable under Section 15(3) of the Act.
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