A Federal High Court in Abuja has rejected a plea by Willie Obiano, the former governor of Anambra State, to dismiss charges alleging theft of N4 billion, affirming the authority of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to prosecute him.
Obiano, who is facing nine charges related to the alleged theft, sought to challenge the EFCC’s legal standing through his lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN).
He argued that the charges were an abuse of court process and claimed that no concrete case had been established against him.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, presiding over the matter, declared the application meritless and allowed the prosecution to proceed.
“As long as the EFCC Act has not been declared unconstitutional, this court cannot stop the implementation of the act,” Justice Ekwo stated, stressing that state security votes, a subject of the allegations, are sourced from the federation account, thus linking the matter to constitutional considerations.
Justice Ekwo also dismissed the relevance of proof of evidence in preliminary stages, noting, “The submission of proof of evidence by the defendant is mistaken and not applicable in this court.”
He referenced a Supreme Court ruling that favored the EFCC’s position against a similar appeal by the Anambra State government.
During the proceedings, Ikpeazu requested an adjustment to the bail conditions due to Obiano’s health issues, explaining, “His treatments usually last sixty days. He will comply with the conditions set by my lord.”
The EFCC’s counsel, Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), expressed reservations about the extended duration but did not oppose the bail variation.
Justice Ekwo granted the modification, stipulating that the defendant must return his passport upon his return from treatment.
The trial has been scheduled to continue on June 24-27, marking a significant step in one of the high-profile corruption cases in Nigeria.
