EFCC’s Trial Of Obiano Stalls As Ex-Anambra Governor Challenges Abuja Court’s Jurisdiction

The Federal High Court has adjourned the trial of former Governor Anambra State, Willie Obiano, after his lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu, applied to challenge the court’s jurisdiction on hearing and determining the money laundering charges instituted against his client by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Recall that Obiano had pleaded not guilty to nine count money laundering charges instituted against him by the EFCC.

Obiano, who served two terms as governor, was arraigned before the court over alleged embezzlement of state funds.

Part of the charge reads, “that Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the executive governor of Anambra State between March 2014 — March 2022, sometime between 9th August, 2017 to 4th March, 2020 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly transferred through Mr Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of N261,268,585.00 only from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account into the account belonging to Easy Diamond Integrated Link (an entity that had no business relationship with the Anambra State Government), which funds were dissipated for purposes unrelated / unconnected with the security affairs of Anambra State, which you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: (Stealing and Corruption) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”

The governor had pleaded not guilty to all the charges while Justice Inyang Ekwo fixed today (March 4) for the commencement of trial by the prosecution.

At the resumed sitting, Sylvanus Tahir, representing the EFCC, told the court he had three witnesses to present against the governor for today.

But Ikpeazu rose and told the judge that he filed a motion relating to the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit by the EFCC.

He asked the court to exercise its discretion to determine his motion first before the commencement of trial.

THE WHISTLER gathered that the governor’s lawyer is insisting that the governor should be tried before a High Court in Anambra State, in the interest of justice.

Tahir confirmed to the court that at about 9:20 am today, the defendant served him with the said motion on notice.

“This is a blatant waste of time,” Tahir contended but Justice Inyang Ekwo interjected him by saying the court should decide on the motion.

Subsequently, lawyers agreed to return on Thursday and exchange processes relating to the motion on notice.

“Case adjourned to 7 March for motion of notice of the defendant,” Justice Ekwo ruled.

THE WHISTLER recalls that following the completion of his tenure in 2022, Obiano was placed on the watchlist of the anti-graft agency over allegations of corruption.

The former governor was eventually arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport hours after he handed over power to Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, the state’s new governor.

The anti-graft agency said Obiano allegedly diverted public funds to his account.