Maurice Iwu
Encyclopedia
Maurice Mmaduakolam Iwu is a Nigeria
n Professor of Pharmacognosy who was appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) in June 2005, and was removed from office in April 2010.
, Ehime Mbano
in Imo State
. He attended St. Pius X College, Bodo-Ogoni for his secondary education. He studied at the University of Bradford
, England
, receiving a Master of Pharmacy degree in 1976 and a Ph.D in 1978. He was WHO Visiting Scholar to Dyson Perrins Laboratory, University of Oxford
(1980), Fulbright Senior Scholar, Ohio State University
and won the U.S National Research International Prize for Ethonobiolology in 1999. He was a Professor of Pharmacognosy at the University of Nigeria
, Nsukka (1984–1993).
Entering business, Iwu became Vice-President, Research and Development of Tom's of Maine, a personal care manufacturing company, and member of the Board of Directors, Axxon Biopharm inc. He served on the Board of InterCEDD, Fund for integrated Rural Development and Traditional Medicine, and Center for Economic and Social Justice. He was the United Nation's Lead Consultant for the development of Nigeria's National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. Iwu has published more than 100 research articles and is the author of four books.
Professor Iwu was President of the International Society of ethnobiology (1996–2002), member and ex-President of the Nigerian Society of Pharmacognosy, Member of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and Member of the International Society for Medicinal Plant Research. He was the Executive Director, Bioresources Development and Conservation Program and a Senior Research Associate at the Division of Experimental Therapeutics of Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington D.C.
in August 2003 by President Olusegun Obasanjo. In June 2005, he succeeded Abel Guobadia
as Chairman of INEC. Soon after being appointed, Iwu announced that foreign monitors would not be allowed during elections, but only foreign election observers. This decision was condemned by politicians and civil society groups who called for his immediate removal from office.
In December 2008 Abubakar Rimi
called on Maurice Iwu, to resign from office, citing irregularities in the previous presidential election.
Michael Aondoakaa
, the Attorney General, opposed sacking Maurice Iwu despite criticism of Iwu's conduct of the 2007 elections.
In March 2009 the Vice-Chairman of Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC) Maina Maaji Lawan
spoke against a motion that questioned the integrity of INEC Chairman Maurice Iwu.
Iwu's tenure was due to expire on 13 June, 2010. However, on 28 April 2010 Acting President Goodluck Jonathan
, who has committed himself to pursuing electoral reform, removed Iwu from office.
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
n Professor of Pharmacognosy who was appointed Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission
Independent National Electoral Commission
The Independent National Electoral Commission , set up in 1998, is the electoral body which was set up to oversee elections in Nigeria.The INEC has encountered several controversies in the run-up to the April 2007 general elections, including criticism about its preparedness from Sada Abubakar,...
(INEC) in June 2005, and was removed from office in April 2010.
Background
Maurice Mmaduakolam Iwu was born on 21 April 1950 in Umuezeala, UmukabiaUmukabia
Umukabia is a village in the Ohuhu community of Umuahia North Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria. There are also several other villages in Nigeria with the same name. It is made up of 3 smaller villages namely; okpuala being the eldest then umuagbom and azummiri...
, Ehime Mbano
Ehime Mbano
Ehime Mbano is a Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Ehime.It has an area of 169 km² and a population of 130,931 at the 2006 census.The postal code of the area is 472....
in Imo State
Imo State
Imo State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria and lies to the south of Nigeria with Owerri as its capital and largest city.-History:Imo State came into existence in 1976 along with other new states created under the leadership of the late military ruler of Nigeria, Murtala Muhammad, having been...
. He attended St. Pius X College, Bodo-Ogoni for his secondary education. He studied at the University of Bradford
University of Bradford
The University of Bradford is a British university located in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. The University received its Royal Charter in 1966, making it the 40th University to be created in Britain, but its origins date back to the early 1800s...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, receiving a Master of Pharmacy degree in 1976 and a Ph.D in 1978. He was WHO Visiting Scholar to Dyson Perrins Laboratory, University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
(1980), Fulbright Senior Scholar, Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
and won the U.S National Research International Prize for Ethonobiolology in 1999. He was a Professor of Pharmacognosy at the University of Nigeria
University of Nigeria
The University of Nigeria, commonly referred to as UNN, is a federal university located in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. Founded in 1955 and formally opened on 7 October 1960, the University of Nigeria has four campuses – Nsukka, Enugu and Ituku-Ozalla – located in Enugu State and one in Aba, Abia...
, Nsukka (1984–1993).
Entering business, Iwu became Vice-President, Research and Development of Tom's of Maine, a personal care manufacturing company, and member of the Board of Directors, Axxon Biopharm inc. He served on the Board of InterCEDD, Fund for integrated Rural Development and Traditional Medicine, and Center for Economic and Social Justice. He was the United Nation's Lead Consultant for the development of Nigeria's National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. Iwu has published more than 100 research articles and is the author of four books.
Professor Iwu was President of the International Society of ethnobiology (1996–2002), member and ex-President of the Nigerian Society of Pharmacognosy, Member of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and Member of the International Society for Medicinal Plant Research. He was the Executive Director, Bioresources Development and Conservation Program and a Senior Research Associate at the Division of Experimental Therapeutics of Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington D.C.
INEC career
Iwu was appointed INEC commissioner for Imo StateImo State
Imo State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria and lies to the south of Nigeria with Owerri as its capital and largest city.-History:Imo State came into existence in 1976 along with other new states created under the leadership of the late military ruler of Nigeria, Murtala Muhammad, having been...
in August 2003 by President Olusegun Obasanjo. In June 2005, he succeeded Abel Guobadia
Abel Guobadia
Sir Abel Guobadia was an educator, administrator, diplomat and retired public servant.-Education:Abel Guobadia was born on June 28, 1932 in Benin City, Nigeria. He attended C.M.S. Primary Schools in Benin City ; Government College, Ibadan ; University College Ibadan...
as Chairman of INEC. Soon after being appointed, Iwu announced that foreign monitors would not be allowed during elections, but only foreign election observers. This decision was condemned by politicians and civil society groups who called for his immediate removal from office.
In December 2008 Abubakar Rimi
Abubakar Rimi
Alhaji Muhammadu Abubakar Rimi was a Nigerian politician, who was the governor of Kano State during the Nigerian Second Republic. He died following an attack by armed robbers.- Background :...
called on Maurice Iwu, to resign from office, citing irregularities in the previous presidential election.
Michael Aondoakaa
Michael Aondoakaa
Michael Kaase Aondoakaa was Nigeria's justice minister from July 2007 to 10 February 2010.-Background:Michael Kaase Aondoakaa was born in Benue on 12 June 1962. He attended the University of Maiduguri, where he studied law...
, the Attorney General, opposed sacking Maurice Iwu despite criticism of Iwu's conduct of the 2007 elections.
In March 2009 the Vice-Chairman of Senate Committee on the Independent National Electoral Commission
Independent National Electoral Commission
The Independent National Electoral Commission , set up in 1998, is the electoral body which was set up to oversee elections in Nigeria.The INEC has encountered several controversies in the run-up to the April 2007 general elections, including criticism about its preparedness from Sada Abubakar,...
(INEC) Maina Maaji Lawan
Maina Maaji Lawan
Maina Maaji Lawan is a Nigerian politician and former governor of Borno State in Nigeria who is now a member of the Senate for the Borno North constituency.-Background:...
spoke against a motion that questioned the integrity of INEC Chairman Maurice Iwu.
Iwu's tenure was due to expire on 13 June, 2010. However, on 28 April 2010 Acting President Goodluck Jonathan
Goodluck Jonathan
Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, GCFR, BNER, GCON is the 14th Head of State and current President of Nigeria.He was Governor of Bayelsa State from 9 December 2005 to 28 May 2007, and was sworn in as Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 29 May 2007. Jonathan is a member of the...
, who has committed himself to pursuing electoral reform, removed Iwu from office.