The former governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, has asserted that the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court lacks jurisdiction to try him on the alleged N4 billion fraud charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Obiano, through his legal team led by Onyechi Ikpeazu, a senior advocate, filed a motion on Monday, March 4, challenging the competence of the court to handle the nine-count money laundering charge.
Arguing that an Abuja court should not adjudicate a crime allegedly committed in Anambra State, the former governor has requested the court to dismiss the accusations against him due to a lack of jurisdiction.
However, the EFCC’s attorney, Sylvanus Tahir, a senior advocate, requested more time to respond to the application, which he claimed the defendant had recently served him. Tahir pointed out that the Supreme Court has ruled on several occasions that a matter involving potential money laundering from any state could be brought before the Federal High Court.
The judge, Inyang Ekwo, has adjourned the hearing until March 7 to consider the motion.
Obiano was arrested by the EFCC shortly after handing over to his successor, Chukwuma Soludo, on Thursday, March 17, 2022, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, en route to the United States.
