A former chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission , Prof . Maurice Iwu , has said his ordeal with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission started on February 23 during the presidential election .
Iwu said the operatives of the anti -graft agency prevented him from voting that day by seizing his passport .
The ex- INEC boss who made the claims in a statement he personally signed on Thursday said he hoped to triumph at the end of his prosecution .
The statement read , “The journey I have found myself on began brewing on February 23 , 2019 when I was deprived of my civic duty of voting in the presidential election as a result of the 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 ) . My gratitude goes to Ndi Igbo , umu Imo , Okigwe indigenes ( both at home and abroad ) , and clerics from various denominations , especially of the Catholic faith, which I belong to. The support was not just in words of encouragement but more in actions of prayers ; for in it all , the glory of God was made manifest. Though I ask the same question Ps . 4 : 2 a stated , “How long , oh men will you turn my glory into shame?’
“Whenever persecution comes my way , I become more aware that God does not forsake His own indeed , and I ’m encouraged by Ps . 34 : 19 ‘ Many are the afflictions of the righteous : but the LORD delivereth him out of them all ’.”
He added , “For despite the challenges, I bow in honour and humility the grace God has offered and continued to afford me and my family.
“More than ever before, with what I have passed through within the last months , I embrace the ever -reassuring grace and presence of the Holy Spirit , which affords my soul to appreciate the professionalism and dignity of many of the staff and persons at the EFCC detention centre , judiciary and the Ikoyi prisons . It could only be God .”
He urged Nigerians to be patient , saying the trial would give him the opportunity to tell his side of the story .
“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 standardisation of African Medicinal Plants ,” he said .
PUNCH
