By Akinwale Kasali
Former Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, has asked the Court to quash the nine-count money laundering charge against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
The Legal Team of Obiano led by Onyechi Ikpeazu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, filed a motion maintaining that the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to try him over offences that were allegedly committed in Anambra State.
He, therefore, prayed the court to dismiss the charge against him for want of jurisdiction.
However, Counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), requested for time to react to the motion, which he said was just served on him by the defendant.
Besides, the prosecution counsel noted that the Supreme Court had, on different occasions, held that once a charge borders on money laundering, it could be filed before the Federal High Court which would have the jurisdiction to try it.
Trial Judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned the matter till March 7 to hear the motion.
Obiano was first arrested at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, on March 17, 2022, as he was preparing to board a flight to Houston, the United States of America.
The EFCC alleged that he looted over N4 billion from the Anambra State treasury.
The agency alleged that the funds were siphoned from Anambra State’s Security Vote Account, converted into dollars and handed to Obiano in cash.
For instance, the prosecuting agency told the court that from March 2014 to March 2022 when Obiano was in office as governor, between February 16, 2018 and March 9, 2018, in Abuja, made cash transaction through a non-financial institution by instructing one Uzuegbuna Okagbue, his then Chief Protocol Officer/Deputy Chief of Staff, to transfer over N223 million from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account, into Connought International Services Limited, which was converted to the equivalent of $600,000 and collected same in cash from one Ayuba Tanko.
He was said to had between October 30, 2018 and November 13, 2018, made cash transaction through a non-financial institution by instructing Okagbue to transfer the sum of N95 million from Anambra State Government Security Vote, into the account of S. Y. Panda, which was converted to $260, 000 and handed to him in cash.
However, upon his arraignment on January 24, the former governor pleaded not guilty to the charge, even as he was released on bail.
