Former Anambra Governor Obiano, N4bn Corruption Charges By The EFCC Adjourned Indefinitely By Court
The trial of Ex- Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, on N4 billion corruption charges has been adjourned indefinitely by the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The trial was put off on Tuesday by Justice Mohammed Garba Umar at the instance of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which, on behalf of the federal government, filed the criminal charges against the former governor.
Obiano was not in court during Tuesday’s proceedings, and no reason was given for his whereabouts.
However, when the matter was called, EFCC counsel Simon Obila, who held the brief of Sylvanus Tahir SAN, informed Justice Umar that the case was being mentioned before the court for the first time.
Obila stated that the trial commenced about two years ago before Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the same court and that the EFCC had called nine witnesses to establish the corruption charges against the defendant.
He submitted that the anti-corruption agency would prefer to wait for the resumption of Justice Ekwo to continue the trial rather than starting it afresh before the new judge.
Obila argued that the EFCC would encounter a series of difficulties if the trial were to begin afresh, adding that a letter requesting an indefinite adjournment had been written to the Chief Judge of the Court, Justice John Tsoho.
He urged the court to grant the request and put off the trial indefinitely.
Meanwhile, Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu SAN, who represented Obiano during the proceedings, did not object to the indefinite adjournment, acknowledging that the EFCC would face setbacks if the trial commenced afresh.
Justice Umar subsequently adjourned the trial indefinitely.
