Obiano’s Trial on Hold as Suspension of Judge Stalls EFCC’s ₦4 Billion Fraud Case

Justice Ekwo, who was presiding over the high-profile case at the Federal High Court in Abuja, was suspended for one year without pay after the NJC found him guilty of misconduct. The council, which met between April 29 and 30, also placed him on a watch list and barred him from elevation for the next five years.

According to the NJC, Justice Ekwo delivered a ruling on a pending application in a criminal matter—Charge No. FHC/ABJ/CR/184/2021—without first hearing from the parties involved, a move the council described as a serious breach of judicial conduct.

Following the suspension, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, reassigned Justice Ekwo’s cases to Justice M.G. Umar of the court’s Enugu Division. However, a visit to the court on Monday revealed that the new judge is yet to assume duty, leaving the courtroom empty and the case stalled.

The development has put a temporary halt to the EFCC’s case against Obiano, who is standing trial for allegedly misappropriating over ₦4 billion in state funds during his time as governor from 2014 to 2022.

So far, the court has heard testimonies from several key witnesses, including bank officials and bureau de change operators, who have detailed the complex financial transactions linked to the former governor’s administration.

One of NAIJAONPOINT es, Ugochukwu Otubelu, a former staff of a commercial bank, told the court that he managed the state’s security vote account. He revealed that transactions were regularly processed under the instructions of two key signatories—Obiano’s former Principal Secretary, Willy Nwokoye, and the state’s Accountant, Theophilus Nweze.

Otubelu said that while funds were moved into six different companies, the beneficiaries behind the accounts were not the named holders, raising further questions about the flow of public funds.

Another witness, Hayatu Hadejia, a bureau de change operator, said he was invited by the EFCC to explain his role in the financial dealings of the Obiano-led government. He confirmed operating five BDC companies used in converting large sums from naira to foreign currency.

Another BDC Operator, Ayuba Tanko, on Nov. 13, 2024, said between April and December 2017, a total sum of N416 million was paid into a company’s account he used, by proxy, in the ongoing trial of Obiano.

Ayuba, who was PW-5, said the N416 million which was received in tranches, was given back as 1.137 million US dollars equivalent.

“I am a trader. I trade in forex exchange. I trade in USDs, Euros and pounce sterling. I do source for customers and I do exchange and collect commission,” he said.

The PW-5 said he used two companies; Sauki Bureau De Change and Zigaziga Trading and Company Ltd for his business. He said he was invited by the EFCC, through its Investigation Department, in 2023 and was questioned about Zigaziga Trading and Company Ltd’s account domiciled in one of the commercial banks.

When the senior lawyer asked him how much he received at the period, NAIJAONPOINT said: “Between April 2017 to December 2017, the total money I received at that period  was 416 million in naira.

“And I gave a dollar equivalent as 1, 137, 000.00 US dollars,” he said. Ayuba revealed that besides this transaction, he did not do any other business with the Anambra government under Gov. Obiano.

Obiano’s lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, during cross examination, asked the PW-5 if he had ever had any dealing with the ex-governor directly, Ayuba said: “I did not deal directly with the defendant.”

The prosecution counsel also called three bankers, who gave their testimonies in the alleged money laundering charge.

POLITICS NIGERIA learned that the NJC slammed a one-year suspension without pay on three serving judicial officers, including a Justice of the Court of Appeal, for various acts of judicial misconduct.The disciplinary actions were among several key resolutions reached at the Council’s 108th meeting held on April 29 and 30, 2025, under the chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.

This was contained in a statement issued by the NJC’s Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Ogedengbe.

The NJC said Justice Jane E. Inyang of the Court of Appeal, Uyo Division, was found guilty of breaching Rule 3 (5) of the Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers.

The council said, “Justice Jane E. Inyang was found to have abused his office by issuing inappropriate Ex parte Orders for the sale ofUdeme Esset’s petrol station and other businesses at the interlocutory stage of the case. Similarly, Justice Ekwo was also suspended for one year without pay.

In addition, he was placed on the Council’s Watch List and barred from elevation for five years.