Obiano is being delved by the EFCC for alleged corruption and money laundering during his term as Anambra State governor from 2014 to 2022.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has demurred against an interim ex parte order by the Awka Division of the Federal High Court presided over by Justice Hyeladzira Nganjiwa acknowledging a former governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, leave to travel to the United States of America.
The court had granted him the order to attend to his medical appointment, on the grounds of denial of fair hail.
Governor Willie Obiano
Obiano is being delved by the EFCC for alleged corruption and money laundering during his term as Anambra State governor from 2014 to 2022.
He was arrested on March 17, 2022, at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos State as he tried to leave the country, hours after handing over to his successor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo.
He'd before been watch-listed by the commission.
A statement on Saturday by the EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren, indicted Obiano of trying to arm- twist theanti-graft commission with the partner parte order.
It stated, “ Available court documents indicate that Obiano had on March 11, 2022, ahead of his handover on March 17 filed a stir ex parte dated March 10, 2022, before Justice Nganjiwa soliciting among others, for an interim instruction stopping the EFCC from arresting or precluding him from travelling out of the country for his medical treatment.
‘’ While the court in one breath ordered the aspirant to put the commission on notice on why interim preservatory order shouldn't be granted, it went ahead to make an order that the commission shouldn't obstruct, stymie or help the aspirant from travelling abroad to keep his medical appointment and suspended till March 23.
‘’
On March 31, the commission was served an forming stir on notice for the enforcement of the aspirant’s abecedarian rights. Curiously, the stir was filed on March 11, 2022, the same date as the stir for partner parte order.
‘’ This was followed by another stir on notice on April 4, putting the commission on notice to release Obiano’s passport to enable him to travel abroad for his medicals with hail fixed for April 6, and instructions that proceedings shall be conducted nearly via Zoom. ’’
Ahead of the hail, the EFCC said it solicited the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court asking Nganjiwa to recuse himself from the abecedarian rights action on the grounds that he was a party in the commission’s appeal at the Supreme Court in the corruption case,H.A. Nganjiwa vs FRN.
‘’ But when the case was called, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba held the detail of his family judge, who's deprived. The case was latterly suspended, with instruction that counsel will be notified of the suspended date, ’’ the commission explained.
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