Former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Maurice Iwu, has said that his travails with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) began when he was deprived of voting in the 2019 elections.
Iwu said this in a statement issued on Friday.
The former electoral umpire boss was arraigned in a Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday, August 8, on a four-count charge of concealment, fraud and money laundering of N1.2 billion which he denied.
He was granted bail of N1 billion with two sureties in likely sum on August 9. Iwu appeared thankful to God and Nigerians for the support since his trial began.
He said: “The journey I have found myself on began brewing on February 23rd, 2019 when I was deprived of my civic duty of voting in the Presidential Election as a result of EFCC ‘investigations’.
“From the seizure of my international passport that February till this recent ordeal with actual charges and detention, God’s goodness has remained manifest as I recite “Te Deum” in Thanksgiving.
“I want to thank Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora for their enormous show of concern, support and the spiritual discipline (for not crucifying me before my day in the court of law).”
Iwu added: “It is noteworthy, that none of the charges against me has to do with my tenure as Chairman of INEC.
“And to the scientific community, please be assured that this would not negatively affect the several ongoing work by Bioresources Institute of Nigeria (BION) in contributing to the discovery and development of phytomedicines for tropical and emergent diseases, and the use of our world-class research facility for the standardization of African Medicinal Plants.”