Former Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano’s N4 billion money-laundering trial was suspended indefinitely by the Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission asked that the case be put on hold to allow the original judge to complete the matter when he returns.
The court made the decision after the EFCC legal team, led by S.O. Obila, requested that the trial should not continue before a new judge. The request was based on the fact that the previous judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, had already heard nine witnesses before the case was transferred. The EFCC said it preferred to wait for Justice Ekwo to return so the trial would not restart from the beginning.
Obiano’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu, did not object to the request. Justice Mohammed Umar, who currently had the case, accepted the application and adjourned the matter without fixing a new date.
Obiano was first brought to court in January 2024 after the EFCC accused him of moving public funds illegally during his time as governor. The charges include transferring over N1.2 billion from Anambra State’s security vote to a private company that had no official link to the government. Security vote funds are meant only for state security operations.
The anti-graft agency also accused him of theft, corruption, abuse of office and conspiracy. During the trial, a Bureau De Change operator, Ayuba Tanko, told the court that large sums of money passed through accounts linked to companies connected to the case, although he denied dealing directly with the former governor.
Obiano’s legal team had earlier tried to stop the case, arguing there was no proof he committed any offence and that he did not approve any illegal payments. However, the former trial judge dismissed that request, stating that the EFCC had the right to investigate and prosecute such matters.
The case had already faced several delays due to jurisdiction challenges filed by Obiano, which were later thrown out by the court. Obiano was placed on the EFCC watchlist after leaving office in 2022 and was arrested at the Lagos airport shortly after.
With the latest ruling, the case will remain on hold until Justice Inyang Ekwo is available to continue the trial.