Obiano was arraigned by the EFCC on nine charges bordering on alleged N4 billion money laundering.
By Ife Osemedua
365Daily – The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday accused a former governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, of evading the service of court process.
Counsel for the commission, Sylvanus Tahir, disclosed this in court on March 7, 2024.
Obiano was arraigned by the EFCC on nine charges bordering on alleged N4 billion money laundering.
According to the anti-graft body, Obiano diverted N4,008,573,350 Anambra State security votes while serving as governor of the state between 2014 and 2022.
Tahir said, “In compliance with the order of the court made on Monday, we filed a counter affidavit to oppose the bid by Obiano to challenge the territorial jurisdiction of the court to prosecute him but our efforts have been to no avail.”
He disclosed that his team was at the Chamber of Obaino’s counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) on Wednesday, but found the office locked. He added that attempts to reach two of the defendant’s lawyers were futile as they were reportedly at a Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.
However, he was only able to serve the counter affidavit on the defendant inside the courtroom on Thursday, he added.
He therefore urged the court to proceed to hear the motion of the former governor challenging the territorial jurisdiction of the court along with the counter affidavit.
Responding, Patrick Ikweto (SAN), who represented Obiano at today’s proceedings, noted that his client was served the counter affidavit in the courtroom and sought for an adjournment to enable him to respond to the counter affidavit.
Justice Inyang Ekwo subsequently adjourned the matter till March 13 for a hearing of Obiano’s motion.
The motion on notice by Ikpeazu (SAN) dated March 3, informed the court of an appeal by the Anambra State Government challenging the EFCC’s authority to investigate the funds.
Ikpeazu said, “The subject matter of the charge bothers on accountability for security votes funds;
The honourable court lacks the requisite jurisdiction to entertain issues on accountability for security votes funds;
“There is an appeal filed by the Anambra State Government challenging the powers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate the security vote of the Anambra State Government
“The preferment of the entire charge is in bad faith.”
He stated, “No evidence exists from any witness showing that Defendant/Applicant passed down directives on the disbursements of security votes and other funds belonging to Anambra State Government,
“The defendant/applicant cannot be made answerable for any purported unlawful actions of officials of Anambra State Government, as there is no vicarious liability in our criminal jurisprudence;
“The thinking and conclusion of the prosecution on the counts arose from speculation and suspicion.
“This honourable court has inherent judicial powers to grant all the reliefs sought above.”