COURT SUSPENDS EX-ANAMBRA GOV, OBIANO’S N4BN MONEY LAUNDERING TRIAL INDEFINITELY

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By: Sefiu Ajape

The Federal High Court in Abuja has indefinitely halted the trial of former Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, who is accused of laundering N4 billion belonging to the state.

The decision was made on Tuesday after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s legal team, led by S.O. Obila, requested an indefinite adjournment.

Obila informed Justice Mohammed Umar that the lead prosecuting counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, had directed that the matter be adjourned sine die so that Justice Inyang Ekwo—who had handled the case from inception—could return to conclude it, rather than have a new judge start afresh.

“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,” Obila said.

The defence, represented by Senior Advocate of Nigeria Onyechi Ikpeazu, did not oppose the application.

After listening to both parties, Justice Umar adjourned the case indefinitely.

Obiano, who was arraigned on January 24, 2024, has pleaded not guilty to the EFCC’s allegations, which include claims that he diverted state funds while in office.

Among the accusations, he is alleged to have transferred more than N1.2 billion from the state’s security vote to a private company with no government ties, in violation of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act. Security votes are monthly allocations meant strictly for security-related operations.

The EFCC’s probe also includes allegations of stealing, corruption, abuse of office, and conspiracy.

Earlier in the proceedings, a Bureau De Change operator, Ayuba Tanko, testified that he received N416 million through proxy accounts linked to Sauki Bureau De Change and Zigaziga Trading and Company Ltd. during Obiano’s tenure. Under cross-examination, Tanko stated that he never dealt directly with the former governor.

Obiano’s legal team had previously filed a motion to quash the charges, insisting there was no evidence of wrongdoing and describing the case as an abuse of judicial process. They argued that the former governor never authorised the disbursement of security vote funds or any other state monies.

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Justice Ekwo, however, threw out the application, ruling that the EFCC has the power to investigate and prosecute financial crimes and that the sufficiency of evidence cannot be determined at a preliminary stage.

The trial has suffered multiple delays, including those arising from Obiano’s challenge to the court’s jurisdiction—a challenge that was eventually dismissed.

Shortly after leaving office in 2022, Obiano was placed on the EFCC watchlist and later arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.

With the indefinite adjournment, the trial will remain on pause until Justice Ekwo is available to resume hearing the case.