Iwu wants trial moved to Abuja, EFCC opposes move

A move by the former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Maurice Iwu, to have his trial moved from Lagos to Abuja on account of age was Thursday opposed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Thursday.
Iwu also hinged his request on the fact that the alleged offence was committed in Abuja.
Iwu’s lawyer, Ahmed Raji SAN, told the court that his client, whom he said is 70-years-old, was too old to be coming from Abuja to Lagos to stand trial at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos and urged that the trial be moved Abuja, where the defendant lives.
The defence counsel further argued that the alleged offence, for which his client is being prosecuted, took place in Abuja.
“My Lord, this defendant is over 70 years of age and he always travels down to Lagos and books a hotel whenever this matter comes up. It will amount to great agony for him to continue with this trial in Lagos,” Raji told the court.
However, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Oyedepo, in his response, urged the court to discountenance the application of the defence, noting that the alleged fraud was investigated in Lagos and that the witnesses to be called live in Lagos and Ibadan.
Oyedepo,  while citing Section 98 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, also submitted that only the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, had the power to direct the transfer of the case to Abuja.
The EFCC is prosecuting Iwu on a four-count charge, bordering on money laundering to the tune of N1,203,000,000.00 (One Billion, Two Hundred and Three Million Naira), before Justice Oweibo of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
He is alleged to have concealed the sum between December 2014 and March 27, 2015 in an account, belonging to Bioresources Institute of Nigeria Limited, domiciled in the United Bank for Africa, UBA with account number: 1018603119.
He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Justice Oweibo adjourned the matter until March 6, 2020 for continuation of trial.