The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the trial of former Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, in the alleged ₦4 billion money laundering case until November 25, 2025.
Justice Mohammed Umar fixed the new date on Thursday after briefly mentioning the matter but rising without hearing it formally, due to other cases on the court’s docket.
The case, filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), accuses Obiano of misappropriating more than ₦4 billion in state security votes and other public funds during his tenure as governor from March 2014 to March 2022.
Background and Case History
The trial was initially presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo, who had earlier scheduled a hearing for May 26. However, the matter was reassigned to Justice Umar following a directive from Chief Judge John Tsoho on May 18. Justice Umar, formerly of the Federal High Court in Enugu, did not sit on May 26, prompting a series of adjournments.
EFCC Witnesses Detail Suspicious Transactions
At earlier proceedings before Justice Ekwo, multiple witnesses testified to suspicious transactions involving Anambra State’s security vote account.
One of the witnesses, Ugochukwu Otubelu, a former commercial bank staff member, testified that the account was managed by Willy Nwokoye (Obiano’s former principal secretary) and Theophilus Nweze (an accountant), not directly by the ex-governor.
He revealed that funds were disbursed to six different companies that were not account holders.
Testimonies from Bureau De Change Operators
The EFCC also called on BDC operators like Hayatu Hadejia and Ayuba Tanko, who admitted to receiving hundreds of millions of naira into proxy accounts and converting them to US dollars, returning large sums in foreign currency.
Tanko said ₦416 million was paid into a company account he operated in 2017 and was returned as $1.137 million, despite having no direct relationship with the Anambra State government.
Obiano Denies Wrongdoing
Despite the detailed testimonies, Obiano’s legal team, led by Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), has maintained that the former governor is not directly linked to any of the suspicious transfers mentioned by the witnesses.
Obiano has pleaded not guilty to the nine-count charge brought against him by the EFCC.
With the reassignment to a new judge, the trial will begin afresh, and all witnesses are expected to retestify before Justice Umar starting from November 25.