The former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Willie Obiano, is challenging the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to hear a case of alleged fraud brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
On January 24, the EFCC arraigned the former governor on nine charges bordering on alleged money laundering to the tune of N4bn.
At the day’s proceedings, counsel for the EFCC, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir told the court he was ready to commence the trial, and had three witnesses to present in court. At that point, counsel for the defendant, Mr. Onyechi Ikpeazu, told the court that he had filed a motion challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter.
The Trial Judge Justice Inyang Ekwo subsequently adjourned the matter to March 7, 2024, for a hearing of the motion.
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The EFCC alleges Mr. Obiano diverted Anambra State’s security votes to the tune of N4bn while he was in office as governor between 2014 and 2022.
The EFCC is also accusing him of indirectly transferring, through his Private Principal Secretary, N1.2bn from the state security vote account to another account belonging to Moment of Peace Ventures, an entity with no business with the state.
The former governor pleaded not guilty to all charges.
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