Anambra govt opposes Obiano’s trial by EFCC

On January 24, the EFCC arraigned Obiano on a nine-count charge bordering on N4bn theft.

Within the costs, the EFCC accused Obiano of diverting Anambra State’s safety votes to N4,008,573,350, whereas he was governor between 2014 and 2022.

Following his arraignment earlier than the Federal Excessive Courtroom in Abuja, Justice Inyang Ekwo allowed him to proceed on the executive bail granted him by the EFCC; however, he restricted the ex-governor’s motion to Abuja.

Also Read: Former Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano Arraigned on Alleged N4bn Fraud Charges

Justice Ekwo ordered the EFCC to deposit Obiano’s journey paperwork with the court docket registrar.

A day after the arraignment, the incumbent Anambra State  Governor, Chukwuma Soludo, paid Obiano in Abuja.

Taking to his Facebook web page, Soludo wrote: “Immediately, within the firm of the APGA Nationwide Chairman, Ezeokenwa Sly Jr., I paid a solidarity visit to my revered predecessor, Chief Willie Obiano, in Abuja.

“The two-hour chat was precious time effectively spent. By His grace, this one, too, shall cross.”

On Thursday, when the trial resumed, Obiano’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), informed Justice Ekwo that the Anambra State authorities opposed Obiano’s trial by the EFCC.

The SAN reviewed the court docket of a March 3 enchantment filed by state authorities to challenge the EFCC’s authority to analyze and check out Obiano.

Ikpeazu mentioned, “The subject material of the cost bothers on accountability for safety votes funds.

Also Read: Willie Obiano challenges Abuja court docket’s jurisdiction

The honourable court docket lacks the requisite jurisdiction to entertain points on accountability for safety votes funds.

“There may be an enchantment filed by the Anambra State Authorities that would make it difficult for the EFCC to analyze their safety vote.

 “The preferment of the complete cost is in unhealthy religion.”

Ikepazu additionally acknowledged that no witness testified that Obiano issued directives for the disbursement of safety votes and other funds belonging to the Anambra State authorities.

He mentioned, “No proof exists from any witness exhibiting that defendant/applicant handed down directives on the disbursements of safety votes and different funds belonging to Anambra State Authorities.

“The defendant/applicant can’t be made answerable for any purported illegal actions of officers of Anambra State Authorities as there isn’t any vicarious legal responsibility in our legal jurisprudence.

“The prosecution’s consideration and conclusion of the counts arose from hypothesis and suspicion. This honourable court docket has inherent judicial powers to grant all the reliefs sought above.”

In the meantime, the N4bn theft trial was stalled for the second time on Thursday because Obiano’s lawyer did not reply to a counter-affidavit filed by the prosecution.

The matter, initially slated for listening on March 5, had stalled over Obiano’s movement, making it difficult for the territorial jurisdiction of the court docket to listen to the matter.

 Justice Ekwo had then adjourned until Thursday to listen to the movement.

Nevertheless, on Thursday, when proceedings resumed, the EFCC prosecutor, Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), advised the court docket that he initially found it troublesome to serve the processes on Obiano’s lead counsel, Ikpeazu, whose workplace he mentioned was locked at the time he visited.

The prosecution counsel advised the court docket that he subsequently referred to one other lawyer in Ikpeazu’s chambers, who notified him that his principal was engaged at a Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

He, nevertheless, mentioned he was in a position to serve each the counter-affidavit and the written handle on the defendant.

Nevertheless, Patrick Ikweto (SAN), the counsel who represented Obiano in court, informed the court that he simply obtained the EFCC’s processes and wanted to review them and file his reply.

Justice Ekwo subsequently adjourned the matter until March 13.