Obiano, former governor of Abia in court
A federal high court in Abuja has indefinitely adjourned the trial of Willie Obiano, former governor of Anambra, who is facing allegations of N4 billion fraud.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Obiano on January 24, 2024, before Inyang Ekwo, the trial judge, on a nine-count charge bordering on the alleged diversion of security vote funds.
Obiano, who governed Anambra from March 2014 to March 2022, is accused of directing the diversion of the funds between April 2017 and March 2022.
According to the EFCC, the money was moved through companies that had no business dealings with the state government, converted to dollars and delivered to the former governor. Obiano pleaded not guilty and was granted bail.
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However, after Ekwo was suspended by the National Judicial Council (NJC), the matter was reassigned to another judge, Mohammed Umar.
At the resumed proceedings on Tuesday, S.O. Obila, counsel for the EFCC, informed the court that the case was appearing before Umar for the first time, noting that the prosecution had instructions to seek an indefinite adjournment.
He told the court that nine witnesses had already testified before Ekwo.
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Obila added that Sylvanus Tahir, senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and the lead prosecuting counsel, had directed that the EFCC would apply to the chief judge for the matter to await Ekwo’s return so he can conclude it.
“In the light of this, I have the instruction of the lead prosecuting counsel, 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,” Obila said.
Obiano’s counsel, Onyeachi Ikpeazu, did not oppose the application.
Consequently, Umar adjourned the trial sine die as requested by the prosecution.
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