The trial of former Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State was halted due to a new application submitted before Justice Nyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Initially, Justice Ekwo had scheduled the trial for March 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th, 2024.
Willie Obiano, accompanied by officials from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), arrived at the Federal High Court in Abuja before 9 am yesterday. He is facing charges from the EFCC related to alleged money laundering amounting to N4,008,573,350.
The accusations center on Obiano’s purported transfer of security votes into various accounts, with the money converted into dollars and returned to him in cash on multiple occasions.
During the resumed hearing, the defendant’s counsel, Onyechi Ipeazu, informed the court of an application from Obiano seeking permission to dismiss all charges, citing the failure of the EFCC to establish a prima facie case against his client as grounds for the application.
In response, counsel for the EFCC, Slyvanus Tahir, stated that they received the application on the morning of the hearing and needed time to review it and provide a response.
Consequently, Justice Ekwo adjourned the proceedings until Thursday, March 7th, to hear the application filed by Governor Obiano.