Maurice Iwu's trial continues in Lagos, court dismisses transfer request

Prof. Maurice Iwu 1

Prof. Maurice Iwu: loses transfer request

Prof. Maurice Iwu: loses transfer request

Akin Kuponiyi

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos South west Nigeria today dismissed an application by the counsel to the former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission Professor Maurice Iwu to transfer his case to Abuja for trial

Professor Iwu is facing trial on charges of laundering N1.23billion

The presiding Judge Nicholas Oweibo while dismissing the application, fixed 20 April for the trial.

Iwu’s application for his case to be transferred to Abuja was dismissed on the ground that all the witnesses EFCC intends to call are all in Lagos.

The counsel to the former INEC Boss Mr. Hamed Raji SAN in an application filed and argued before the court challenging territorial jurisdiction of the court, urged the court to transfer the case to Abuja, on the ground that the offence alleged to have been committed took place in Abuja.

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He also argued that the defendant resides in Abuja and any time the matter comes up in Lagos, the defendant spends money on transportation, hotel accommodation and goes through a lot of stress.

EFCC prosecuting counsel Mr. Rotimi Oyedepo, in his counter argument told the court that only the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court has the power to transfer any case from one division of the court to another division, going by the new Administration of Criminal Justice system.

He told the court that all the witnesses the prosecution intends to call to give evidence are all Lagos based. These are the investigating Police Officer and the officers of the banks.

Mr Oyedepo argued further that the alleged offence committed by Maurice Iwu touches the economy of Nigeria.

Therefore he could be tried in any part of the country.He thus urged the court to dismiss Iwu’s request.

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