N4bn theft: Court Grants Obiano’s Medical Trip

Willie Obiano, the immediate former governor of Anambra State, was unable to have the N4 billion theft accusations against him dismissed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. 

The Federal High Court in Abuja's Justice Inyang Ekwo denied Obiano's preliminary objection, which contested the EFCC's authority to prosecute him.

Nonetheless, the judge accepted Obiano's request to have his passport released so he could travel for medical reasons.

Judge Ekwo ordered that Obiano submit his passport to the court upon his return from the medical trip, even though the trial was postponed until June 27.

Obiano was charged with nine counts related to Anambra theft after being arraigned on January 24. 

But in a preliminary objection filed through his lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), the ex-governor contended that the EFCC lacked the power to prosecute him.

He urged the court to, therefore, quash the charges, describing them as an abuse of court process.

After the ruling, Ikpeazu moved an application to vary the bail granted to the defendant.