Court directs ex-Anambra Gov Obiano to stand trial for alleged N4 billion fraud

PEOPLES GAZETTE

On Thursday, the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court dismissed an application by ex-Governor Willie Obiano challenging the EFCC’s powers to prosecute him.

Ruling on an application filed by Mr Obiano challenging his trial on Thursday, Justice Inyang Ekwo said the application lacked merit and deserved to be dismissed.

The judge faulted and rejected all the grounds upon which Mr Obiano predicated his application.

He said the court would not know whether the former governor was linked to the alleged offences unless the trial was conducted in accordance with the law.

The judge held that the issue under contention was whether the state’s security votes were paid from the federation account, and so the prosecution had a valid case.

“As long as the EFCC Act has not been declared unconstitutional, this court cannot stop the implementation of the act. The powers of the EFCC ought to be a question of law and has bearing in the 1999 Constitution.

“State security votes come from the federation account making the development a constitutional issue.

“This court has no powers to preempt the case of the prosecution, ” the judge said.