Former Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, is challenging the jurisdiction of the Abuja Federal High Court to hear the alleged fraud case brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The EFCC had arraigned Obiano on January 24, accusing him of diverting N4 billion of the state’s security votes between 2014 and 2022. The charges allege that Obiano indirectly transferred N1.2 billion from the state security vote account to another account belonging to Moment of Peace Ventures, a company with no ties to the state. Obiano pleaded not guilty to all counts.
During the recent court hearing, the EFCC’s counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, stated readiness to commence trial and had three witnesses lined up.
However, Obiano’s counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu SAN, informed the court of a motion challenging the court’s jurisdiction, requesting the court to rule on the motion before proceeding with the trial. Justice Inyang Ekwo, the presiding judge, urged Tahir to respond to the motion, and he adjourned the case to March 7, 2024, for further consideration.
