A federal high court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has granted a N1 billion bail
to Maurice Iwu, former chairman of the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC).
The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Iwu before the court on four count charges of
“N1.23 billion fraud” but the ex-INEC chairman pleaded not guilty to the
charges.
On Friday, Chuka Obiozor,
presiding judge, granted him bail with two sureties in like sum.
Obiozor ruled that the former
INEC chairman must not communicate with any of the witnesses in the case.
But Rotimi Oyedepo, prosecution
lawyer, argued that there was evidence of the possibility of the defendant
intimidating or interfering with the witnesses if he was granted bail.
He urged the court to use its
discretion not to grant the bail.
However, Obiozor granted the bail
and ordered that Iwu be remanded in the Ikoyi prison until he meets the bail
conditions.
The anti-graft agency had accused
the former INEC chairman of playing a part in concealing N1.23 billion public
funds between December 2014 and March 2015.
The money is believed to be part
of the N23.29 billion public funds allegedly diverted and shared by Diezani
Allison-Madueke, former minister of petroleum resources.
The EFCC said this was “to
influence the outcome of the 2015 presidential elections.”
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