EFCC Accuses Obiano Of Evading Service Of Court Process

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged former Anambra State governor Willie Obiano with evading court proceedings in connection with N40 billion in suspected fraud allegations, at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, March 7.

The charge was made by the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, and lead counsel to the EFCC, Sylvanus Tahir, during the former governor’s trial relaunch about the corruption allegations against him.

Tahir notified Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo that, in accordance with the court’s Monday decision, he had submitted a counter-affidavit to refute Obiano’s attempt to contest the court’s territorial jurisdiction over him.

However, the senior lawyer expressed disappointment that efforts to serve the counter affidavit on the former governor through his counsel on Wednesday, as required by the court, were unsuccessful.

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He informed the Court that his team was on Wednesday at the Chamber of Dr. Onyechi Ikpeazu SAN, Obiano’s main counsel, but that the gate to the office was securely locked.

Tahir stated that he personally called two of the defendant’s lawyers, but was told they were at a Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

The lawyer said that due to the circumstances, he was only able to serve the defendant with the counter affidavit inside the courtroom on Thursday.

He requested that the court consider the previous governor’s application and counter-affidavit contesting the court’s geographical authority.

But Patrick Ikweto, SAN, who represented Obiano at the proceedings on Thursday, acknowledged that he had been served and asked for a postponement so that he could address the EFCC’s counter-affidavit.

Judge Ekwo granted the request and scheduled a hearing on March 13th to consider Obiano’s territorial jurisdiction motion.

After serving two terms as governor of Anambra State, the former governor was charged with embezzling N40 billion in public monies.

A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.

Nnamdi Okoli