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 Ikpeazu Onyechi 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.
Part of the charge reads, “that Chief Willie Maduabuchi
Obiano, whilst being the executive governor of Anambra State between March 2014
— March 2022, sometime between 9th August, 2017 to 4th March, 2020 in Abuja,
within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly transferred
through Mr Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of
N261,268,585.00 only from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account
into the account belonging to Easy Diamond Integrated Link (an entity that had
no business relationship with the Anambra State Government), which funds were
dissipated for purposes unrelated / unconnected with the security affairs of
Anambra State, which you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed
part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: (Stealing and Corruption)
and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the
Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2012 and punishable
under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”
