The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accused former governor of Anambra State, Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, of evading court process in the N40 billion alleged fraud charges against him at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday.
Lead counsel to the anti-graft agency and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Sylvanus Tahir, made the accusation during the trial of the former governor. Tahir informed Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo that despite efforts to serve the counter affidavit on Obiano through his lawyer as ordered by the court, they were unsuccessful.
Tahir expressed frustration at their inability to serve the counter affidavit, noting that the defendant’s lawyer’s office was inaccessible on Wednesday. He added that despite attempts to contact the defendant’s lawyers, they were unavailable due to their presence at a Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.
Due to these circumstances, Tahir stated that they were only able to serve the counter affidavit on the defendant inside the courtroom on Thursday. He requested the court to proceed with hearing Obiano’s motion challenging the court’s territorial jurisdiction along with the counter affidavit.
In response, Patrick Ikweto SAN, representing Obiano, confirmed receipt of the counter affidavit and requested an adjournment to enable them to respond. Justice Ekwo granted the request and scheduled March 13 for the hearing of Obiano’s motion on territorial jurisdiction.
Obiano, who served two terms in Anambra State, faces allegations of embezzling state funds amounting to N40 billion. Part of the charge accuses him of indirectly transferring funds from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account into an unrelated account, thereby committing offenses under the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act.