The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed November 25, 2025, for the trial of former Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, who is facing charges of alleged N4 billion money laundering.

The court adjourned the case after the new trial judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, rose after taking three judgments and several other cases on the cause list. The nine-count charge against the former governor was recently reassigned to Justice Umar by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho.

Previously, the case was being handled by Justice Inyang Ekwo, who had scheduled May 26 for continuation of trial before the reassignment. However, Justice Umar, who was transferred from the Enugu judicial division, did not sit on that date, leading to the July 24 mention and subsequent November trial date.

Details of the Allegations

Obiano, who served as Anambra governor between March 2014 and March 2022, is alleged to have misappropriated over N4 billion from the state treasury, according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The prosecution has already presented several witnesses in the ongoing trial. On October 7, 2024, EFCC's lawyer, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, led two witnesses in evidence before Justice Ekwo. A former commercial bank staff, Mr. Ugochukwu Otubelu, revealed how he managed the security vote account under Obiano's government.

Otubelu, who served as the third prosecution witness (PW-3), testified that the signatories to the security vote account were the former Principal Secretary to the ex-governor, Willy Nwokoye, and the Accountant, Theophilus Nweze. He admitted that funds from the security votes account were transferred to six companies' accounts, though he claimed the money did not go to the account holders.

Bureau De Change Operators' Testimonies

The EFCC also called Hayatu Hadejia, a Bureau De Change (BDC) operator, as the fourth prosecution witness. Hadejia told the court that he runs BDC companies and was invited by the EFCC as part of its investigations into the financial activities of Obiano's government.

Another BDC operator, Ayuba Tanko, testified on November 13, 2024, that between April and December 2017, a total sum of N416 million was paid into a company account he used by proxy. Tanko, who was the fifth prosecution witness, said the N416 million, received in tranches, was converted to 1.137 million US dollars.

"I am a trader. I trade in forex exchange. I trade in USDs, Euros and Pound Sterling. I do source for customers and I do exchange and collect commission," Tanko stated during his testimony.

When cross-examined by Obiano's lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, Tanko admitted that he never dealt directly with the former governor.

The prosecution has also called three bankers who have given their testimonies in the alleged money laundering case.

As the case continues to unfold, Nigerians await the November 25 trial date to see how the proceedings against the former governor will progress.

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