Alleged ₦4bn fraud: Abuja court lacks jurisdiction to try me – Obiano

The immediate past governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, on Monday, challenged the competence of the nine-count money laundering charge the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, preferred against him.

In the motion he filed through his team of lawyers led by Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) the former governor maintained that the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to try him over offences that were allegedly committed in Anambra State.
He, therefore, prayed the court to dismiss the charge against him for want of jurisdiction.

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However, counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), requested for time to react to the motion, which he said was just served on him by the defendant.

Besides, the prosecution counsel noted that the Supreme Court had, on different occasions, held that once a charge borders on money laundering, it could be filed before the Federal High Court which would have the jurisdiction to try it.

Trial Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned the matter till March 7 to hear the motion.