The Federal High Court in Abuja has put the N4 billion money laundering case against former Anambra State Governor Willie Obiano on hold indefinitely.
Justice Mohammed Umar granted the request on Tuesday after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s legal team, led by S.O. Obila, applied for an adjournment.
The matter, now appearing before Justice Umar for the first time, was previously overseen by Justice Inyang Ekwo, who is currently serving a one-year suspension issued by the National Judicial Council for misconduct.
Obila informed the court that he was instructed by the lead prosecutor, Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), to seek an adjournment with no fixed date pending Justice Ekwo’s reinstatement.
He said, “In light of this, I have the instruction of the lead prosecuting counsel, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir (SAN), to apply that since we had called nine witnesses before the previous judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, we should wait for him to return and conclude the matter.”
The defence, led by Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), did not oppose the request.
After hearing submissions from both sides, Justice Umar adjourned the case sine die.
Obiano was arraigned on January 24, 2024, by the EFCC, which accused him of laundering N4bn in security votes allocated to Anambra State during his tenure as governor.
Prior to his arraignment, the EFCC had placed him on a watchlist shortly after he left office in 2022, and he was subsequently arrested at Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport.
The trial has been stalled multiple times, particularly after Obiano challenged the court’s jurisdiction.
Recently, reports circulated falsely claiming that he had died in London; however, he remains alive and well in the United States.
The indefinite adjournment means that the trial will remain on hold until Justice Ekwo is available to resume proceedings.