You possibly can’t prosecute me in Abuja for crimes allegedly dedicated in Anambra – Ex-Gov, Obiano to EFCC

Former Anambra State Governor, Willie Maduabuchi Obiano has advised a Federal Excessive Court docket in Abuja that he can’t be prosecuted in Abuja for fraud crimes he allegedly dedicated in Anambra State.

He requested the court docket to say no jurisdiction to strive the fraud costs and to direct the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee, EFCC, to shift the prosecution of the prison matter to the suitable place in Anambra.

Obiano, by way of his lawyer, Dr Onyechi Ikpeazu SAN insisted that the suitable place to find out the cash laundering costs instituted in opposition to him should be thought-about and resolved earlier than any trial may begin.

The previous governor who served two phrases in Anambra State was arraigned earlier than the court docket over alleged embezzlement of state funds amounting to N40 billion.

On the Monday’s proceedings, EFCC lawyer, Sylvanus Tahir advised the court docket that he had three witnesses to current in opposition to the governor for the trial.

However Ikpeazu Onyechi advised the decide that he filed a movement difficult the jurisdiction of the court docket to conduct the trial in Abuja by the EFCC.

He requested the court docket to train its discretion to find out his movement first earlier than the graduation of any trial.

The EFCC lawyer, Tahir confirmed to the court docket that the defendant served him with the stated movement on discover.

“It is a blatant waste of time, “Tahir contended however Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo interjected and requested him to permit the court docket to resolve the movement on its benefit.

Subsequently, attorneys agreed to return to court docket on Thursday and change processes regarding the movement on discover.

Justice Ekwo thereafter adjourned the matter to March 7 for a movement of discover to be decided.

A part of the cost reads, “that Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, while being the manager governor of Anambra State between March 2014 — March 2022, someday between ninth August, 2017 to 4th March, 2020 in Abuja, inside the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court docket, not directly transferred by way of Mr Willie Nwokoye, your then principal personal secretary, the sum of N261,268,585.00 solely from the Anambra State Authorities Safety Vote Account into the account belonging to Simple Diamond Built-in Hyperlink (an entity that had no enterprise relationship with the Anambra State Authorities), which funds have been dissipated for functions unrelated / unconnected with the safety affairs of Anambra State, which you moderately should have recognized that such funds fashioned a part of the proceeds of your illegal act, to wit: (Stealing and Corruption) and also you thereby dedicated an offence opposite to Part 15 (2) (b) of the Cash Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2012 and punishable below Part 15 (3) of the identical Act.”