N4bn fraud: Court hears Obiano’s motion challenging jurisdiction Thursday

Ex-Gov Willie Obiano in court on Wednesday, January 24, 2024

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has slated Thursday, March 7, 2024, for the hearing of a motion brought by a former governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the N4 billion money laundering charge preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The presiding judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, announced the date on Monday, March 4.

At Monday’s proceedings, the defence counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), filed a motion urging Justice Ekwo to quash the charges against Obiano “for lack of jurisdiction to hear the matter and that no prima facie case has been established against the defendant”.

EFCC counsel, Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), however, informed the court that he needed adequate time to study and respond to the motion, saying he was only served the motion in court on Monday morning.

Based on his prayers, Justice Ekpo adjourned the hearing on the motion till Thursday, March 7.

Obiano was arraigned on January 24 by the EFCC on a nine-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N4 billion.

EFCC: How ex-Gov Obiano stole N4bn Anambra security vote

The Star had reported that Obiano was accused by the EFCC of transferring N4,008,573,350 from Anambra State Government Security Vote Accounts into different private accounts.

Some of the charges against Obiano are: “That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the executive governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 – March 2022, sometime between 7th February, 2018 to 18th February, 2019 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly transferred through Mr Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of N156,800.00 only from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No: 5030050875 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Pic into the Fidelity Bank Ple Account No: 6060018819 belonging to C.I. Patty Ventures Nigeria Limited (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.

“That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the executive governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 — March 2022, sometime between 9th August, 2017 to 4th March, 2020 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly transferred through Mr Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of N261,268,585.00 only from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No: 5030050875 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Plc into the Fidelity Bank Plc Account No: 5600062873 belonging to Easy Diamond Integrated Link (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.”

The Star