Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, the former governor of Anambra State, has informed the Federal High Court in Abuja that he is not subject to prosecution in Abuja for alleged fraud offenses he committed in Anambra State.
In addition to directing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, or EFCC, to reroute the criminal case to the proper location in Anambra, he asked the court to deny jurisdiction to prosecute the fraud accusations.
Before any trial could start, Obiano, through his attorney, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu SAN, insisted that the proper forum for addressing the money laundering charges brought against him be determined.
The former governor of Anambra State, who held office for two terms, was charged with embezzling N40 billion in public funds.
Sylvanus Tahir, the attorney for the EFCC, informed the court during the Monday’s hearings that he would be calling three witnesses to testify against the governor.
However, Ikpeazu Onyechi informed the judge that he had filed a motion contesting the court’s authority to hold the EFCC trial in Abuja.
Before the start of any trial, he requested that the court use its discretion to decide his motion.
Tahir, the attorney for the EFCC, attested to the court that the defendant had served him with the aforementioned motion on notice.
Tahir protested, “This is a blatant waste of time,” but Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo interrupted and urged him to give the court’s decision on the motion’s merits.
The attorneys then decided to meet again in court on Thursday to discuss the motion on notice and exchange procedures.
Thereafter, Justice Ekwo postponed the case to March 7 in order to decide on a notice motion.