…Case adjourned to March 7
Chief Willie Obiano, former Anambra State Governor, has told a Federal High Court that he cannot be prosecuted in Abuja for fraud crimes he allegedly committed in Anambra State.
Obiano who served two terms in Anambra State was arraigned before the court over alleged embezzlement of state funds amounting to N40 billion.
Angel Network News (ANN) gathered that Obiano asked the court to decline jurisdiction to try the fraud charges and to direct the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to shift the prosecution of the criminal matter to the appropriate place in Anambra.
The former Governor of Anambra state through his lawyer, Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, insisted that the appropriate place to determine the money laundering charges instituted against him must be considered and resolved before any trial could commence.
At the Monday’s proceedings, EFCC lawyer, Sylvanus Tahir told the court that he had three witnesses to present against the governor for the trial.
But Onyechi Ikpeazu told the judge that he filed a motion challenging the jurisdiction of the court to conduct the trial in Abuja by the EFCC.
He asked the court to exercise its discretion to determine his motion first before the commencement of any trial.
The EFCC lawyer, Tahir confirmed to the court that the defendant served him with the said motion on notice.
“This is a blatant waste of time, “Tahir contended but Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo interjected and asked him to allow the court to decide the motion on its merit.
Subsequently, lawyers agreed to return to court on Thursday and exchange processes relating to the motion on notice.
Justice Ekwo thereafter adjourned the matter to March 7 for a motion of notice to be determined.
