Three witnesses of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday at a Federal High Court in Abuja,confirmed that transactions in bank statements provided as exhibits in the suit followed laid down procedures.
They testified in the money laundering charges preferred against a former Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano.
In the suit before Justice Inyang Ekwo, Obiano, who was Anambra State governor between March 2014 and March 2022, is facing a nine-count charge for allegedly defrauding the state to the tune of N4 billion from the state treasury account.
The monies were alleged to have been stolen from Anambra State security votes account which was converted into dollars and given to the defendant (Obiano) in cash.
Three witnesses called by the prosecution from a new generation bank, Jeremiah Nnajenu, Kingsley Onuh and Mirabeth Onyechi, who testified as Principal Witnesses 6,7 and 8, said transactions made to bank accounts in exhibits in the suit were done by registered companies through normal banking transactions.
All three witnesses were earlier led in evidence by the Prosecution Counsel, Sylvanus Tahir, SAN, who first called Ayuba Tanko Abbullahi, Principal Witness 5, a Bureau de Change operator who testified about monies transferred into his account with the bank.
PW5 testified that a total sum of N416m was transferred to his Company Zirgazirga’s account by installments from the state government’s account between April and December 2017 and he paid out the dollars equivalent of $1,157,000.
Under cross examination by Defence Counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, the witness,Tanko admitted he never personally had any interaction with the defendant.
The three witnesses from the bank, also under cross examination, admitted that they never had any interaction with the defendant as regards any of the transactions in the exhibits presented in court.
At the close of testimony by PW8, Tahir said the other witnesses he had sought to call are not available because they have been transferred to Lagos State and he will need time to present them.
Meanwhile, Justice Ekwo subsequently adjourned the matter to February 24,25 and 26 2025 for continuation of trial.