Alleged N4bn fraud: Court adjourns Obiano’s case indefinitely

The Federal High Court, Abuja on Tuesday, adjourned the trial of former Anambra Governor, Willie Obiano over alleged ₦4 billion fraud, indefinitely.

This followed an application by the prosecuting agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that the matter be adjourned sine die. (Indefinitely)

When the case was called before Justice Mohammed Umar, the prosecuting counsel Mr S.O. Obila informed the court that, the matter was coming up before the judge for the first time.

He, however, said that he had instruction from the lead prosecuting counsel to ask the court to adjourn the matter sine die.

“In the light of this, I have the instruction of the lead prosecuting counsel in this case, Mr Sylvanus Tahir, SAN to apply to the Chief Judge that since we had called nine witnesses before the previous judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, we should wait for him to return and conclude the matter,” he said.

He therefore prayed the court to adjourn the matter “sine die”.

Responding, counsel to Obiano, Mr Onyeachi Ikpeazu, SAN said that he was not opposing the application for adjournment since the prosecutor explained to him the difficulty his team had in getting the nine witnesses who had already testified.

The trial Judge, Justice Mohammed Umar subsequently adjourned the matter sine die.

Our correspondent recalls that Obiano, who was governor of Anambra from March 2014 to March 2022, was arraigned by the EFCC on Jan. 24, 2024, on a nine-count money laundering charge.

The anti-graft agency alleged that he misappropriated over ₦4 billion from the state’s security vote account, diverting funds into private entities and converting some into foreign currency.

In April 2024, Justice Ekwo refused to quash the case, ruling that the court had jurisdiction and that a prima facie case had been established against him.

Our correspondent reports that nine witnesses have so far testified in the trial, including a Bureau de Change (BDC) operator who claimed he received about ₦416 million over eight months from the state’s security vote account.

The case was stalled, in part, because of Justice Ekwo’s suspension by the National Judicial Council.