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Ex-Anambra Gov, Obiano loses bid to stop trial in N40bn fraud charges.

Ex-Anambra Gov, Obiano loses bid to stop trial in N40bn fraud charges.

Justice Inyang Edem Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the application by a former Anambra State Governor, Willie Maduabuchi Obiano which sought to quash the N40B money laundering charges brought against him by the federal government.

The Judge in a ruling delivered on Thursday faulted and rejected all grounds upon which the application was predicted by Obiano.

Galaxy TV reports that the former Governor had amongst others, prayed the Judge to dismiss the 9-count charges instituted against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC on behalf of the federal government.
He claimed that there was no connection between the proof of evidence supplied to court by EFCC and the accusations against him.
He averred that there was no testimony from any witness indicating that he issued directives for the disbursement of security votes and other funds belonging to the Anambra State government.

In the ruling, Justice Ekwo held that all the reliefs sought by Obiano are not grantable because they are premature and lacking in merit.
The Judge said that there is no way the court would know whether the former governor is linked with the alleged offences or not unless the trial is conducted in line with the provisions of the law.

The former governor is being prosecuted by EFCC on 9-count charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N40 billion.

Meanwhile, the Judge has fixed June 24, 25, 26 and 27 for full blown trial of the charges. In the same vein, Justice Ekwo permitted Obiano 60 days to travel abroad for medical treatment.
The Judge ordered that Obiano be made to sign undertaking to return to the country after the treatment and to deposit his travelling passport within three days of his return to Nigeria.

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