Obiano Asks Court To Quash N4,008,573,350 Corruption Charge Filed By EFCC
Ayuba Sanusi
THE corruption trial of the former governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano, ongoing before Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of a Federal High Court, Abuja, was temporarily halted today following an application by the defendant asking the court to quash the nine-count charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
It will be recalled that Justice Ekwo had at the last adjourned date (24 January 2024)) fixed the trial for the 4th, 5th, 6th and 7th of March, 2024.
However, at the resumption of hearing today, counsel to the defendant, Onyechi Ipeazu (SAN), informed the court of an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the N4 billion money laundering charge brought against him by the EFCC.
Mr Ipeazu is of the view that the court lacks the jurisdiction to hear the matter and that no prima facie case has been established against the defendant.
However, counsel to the anti-graft agency, Slyvanus Tahir (SAN), informed the court that the application was served on him this morning in court and that he needed time to study it and respond accordingly.
On this premise, Justice Ekwo therefore adjourned the matter till Thursday 7th of March for hearing of the application filed by the embattled former governor.
Eighteen-Eleven Media reports that Chief Obiano was on 24 January 2024 arraigned on nine-count charges bordering on money laundering, diversion of funds, stealing and corruption to the tune of Four Billion Eight Million, Five Hundred and Seventy-Three Thousand, Three Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N4,008,573,350.00) only.
Count one of the charge reads: “That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the Executive Governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 – March 2022, sometime between the 16th February, 2018 and 9th March, 2018 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did make cash transaction through a non-financial institution by instructing one Uzuegbuna Okagbue, your then Chief Protocol Officer / Deputy Chief of Staff to transfer the aggregate sum of Two Hundred and Twenty-Three Million, Three Hundred and Seventy-One Thousand Naira (N223,371,000) only from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No 5030050875 domiciled at Fidelity Bank Plc into Connought International Services Limited, Fidelity Bank No 5540007709 (a non-financial institution) which was converted to the equivalent of Six Hundred Thousand United States Dollars ($600,000.00) and collected in cash from one Ayuba Tanko and handed over to you in cash by the said Uzuegbuna Okagbue and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 1 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2012 and punishable under Section 16 (2) (b) of the same Act.”
Count four of the charge reads: “That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the Executive Governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 – March 2022, sometime between 13th February 2018 to 2nd March 2022, in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, indirectly transferred through Mr Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of One Billion, Two Hundred and Six Million, Seven Hundred and Sixty Thousand, Three Hundred and Ten Naira (N1, 206, 760,310) only from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No: 5030050875 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Plc into the Fidelity Bank Plc Account No: 5600251033 belonging to Moment of Peace Ventures (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”.
He pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to him.
Eighteen-Eleven Media
