NEWS
Ex-Anambra Governor Faces Trial Over Alleged N4bn Fraud
In a significant legal development, the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has ruled against former Governor Willie Obiano’s attempt to challenge the EFCC’s jurisdiction in prosecuting him.
Justice Inyang Ekwo, presiding over the case, delivered the verdict on Thursday, deeming Obiano’s application lacking in merit and deserving of dismissal.
This decision comes after thorough consideration, with the judge rejecting all grounds presented by Obiano’s legal team.
The judge emphasized that determining the former governor’s connection to the alleged offenses would require proper legal proceedings.
Specifically, Justice Inyang Ekwo highlighted that the pivotal issue revolved around whether the state’s security votes originated from the federation account, thus affirming the validity of the prosecution’s case.
The judge said “As long as the EFCC Act has not been declared unconstitutional, this court cannot stop the implementation of the act. The powers of the EFCC ought to be a question of law and has bearing in the 1999 Constitution.
“State security votes come from the federation account making the development a constitutional issue..This court has no powers to preempt the case of the prosecution, ”
Subsequent to the ruling, Mr. Obiano’s counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu, made a plea for the release of his client’s international passport to facilitate medical treatment abroad.
Ikpeazu cited the defendant’s health condition and the necessity of sixty days for his treatment, assuring compliance with any conditions set by the court.
In a conciliatory stance, counsel to the EFCC, Sylvanus Tahir, stated the prosecution’s lack of opposition to the application. However, Tahir expressed reservations regarding the 60 days treatment duration.
Mr Tahir said, “We are not opposed to the application but we have issues with the 60 days because the trial has been truncated already.”
The judge was inclined to grant the application, with the condition that the former governor return his international passport to the court’s registrar upon his return.
Furthermore, he adjourned the proceedings until June 24th to 27th, indicating the commencement of the trial.
Mr. Obiano, who was arraigned on January 24th, is facing trial on a nine-count charge amounting to alleged N4 billion fraud.
Previously, he filed an application challenging the EFCC’s jurisdiction to prosecute him, seeking to dismiss the charges, alleging them to be an abuse of court process and asserting the absence of a prima facie case against him.
Mr. Obiano asserted that there was no correlation between the evidence presented by the EFCC to the court and the accusations against him. He contended that no witness testified to him issuing directives for the disbursement of security votes and other government funds in Anambra State.
Furthermore, Mr. Obiano argued that he couldn’t be held responsible for any alleged unlawful actions by Anambra government officials, citing the absence of vicarious liability in the criminal justice system.
His motion on notice was based on legal provisions including sections 6 (6) (a) and (b), section 36(6) (6) b of the 1999 Constitution as amended, and section 1(1) & (2), 266, 271(b), 383(4) & 492 (3) of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Act 2015.
Among other requests, Mr. Obiano sought an order from the court to dismiss the current charge, arguing that it constitutes a flagrant abuse of the judicial process and undermines the integrity of the criminal justice system.
Additionally, he requested an order to quash the charge due to the alleged failure to disclose a prima facie case, asserting that the nine-count charges lacked specificity and precision.
Oil marketers have warned that Nigerians may soon pay as much as ₦1,500 per litre for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, as global oil prices surge following the escalating conflict involving Iran in the Middle East.
The National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), Dr. Billy Gillis-Harry, issued the warning on Tuesday while speaking on a television programme on the impact of the global crisis on fuel prices.
According to him, the current volatility in the international oil market has already pushed petrol prices above ₦1,000 per litre at the depot level, with the ex-depot price from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery now standing at about ₦1,175 per litre.
He explained that once logistics, transportation, and other operational costs are added, the final pump price could rise significantly, possibly reaching ₦1,500 per litre in the near future.
Despite concerns about the rising cost of fuel, Gillis-Harry noted that steady availability of petroleum products from the Dangote Refinery remains a major relief for Nigeria, stressing that consistent supply is better than a nationwide fuel scarcity.
He added that the refinery’s production capacity is helping to stabilize supply across the country at a time when global markets remain highly unstable.
The latest price adjustment by the Dangote Refinery marks the fourth review within two weeks. Petrol prices increased from ₦995 per litre to ₦1,175 per litre, while diesel rose from ₦1,430 to about ₦1,620 per litre.
The development comes amid a sharp spike in international crude oil prices triggered by fears of supply disruptions due to the ongoing Middle East conflict.
Brent crude recently climbed above $102 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) rose to around $101 per barrel.
Industry analysts say the rising oil prices are already having a ripple effect on Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, forcing depot operators and fuel marketers to adjust their prices in response to the global market trend.
Meanwhile, the management of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has stated that although Nigeria introduced a crude-for-naira arrangement to support local refineries, the facility still purchases crude oil at international market prices, leaving it exposed to global price fluctuations.
The United Nations has raised the alarm over a dramatic surge in attacks on schools worldwide, reporting a 166% increase between 2021 and 2024.
The rise highlights the escalating dangers faced by children in conflict zones.
United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, revealed the figures during the annual meeting of the UN Human Rights Council on the rights of the child on Monday.
The session, themed “Mainstreaming the Rights of Children in Armed Conflict: Prevention and Protection,” focused on protecting children amid global conflicts.
Al-Nashif noted that the attacks were particularly concentrated in Sudan, Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, Myanmar, and Ethiopia, where children remain among the most vulnerable victims.
“In 2024, armed conflict directly affected nearly one in six children globally—about 470 million children,” she said. “Years of lost education, trauma, and lasting mental scars shape societies for generations. Long after the fighting subsides, children continue to face deadly risks.”
She highlighted Gaza as having the world’s highest number of child amputees per capita, warning that the impact of war goes far beyond immediate violence.
In Lebanon, government figures show that more than 450,000 people were displaced in less than a week, with at least 394 fatalities, including 83 children, during the 2024 conflict with Israel.
Al-Nashif also stressed the disproportionate risks for displaced children, who are more likely to die from disease linked to unsafe water and sanitation than from direct violence.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a 2025 cholera outbreak killed 340 children, underscoring the long-term consequences of conflict.
She called on states to uphold their international obligations to protect children, insisting that protecting children is “both a legal obligation and a humanitarian moral imperative.”
Also speaking at the council, Vanessa Frazier, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, warned that violence against children continued at extreme levels in 2025.
She urged mainstreaming child protection across peace, security, humanitarian, human rights, and development efforts, emphasizing that children should actively participate in shaping policies designed to safeguard them.
Frazier highlighted her office’s global campaign, “Prove It Matters,” aimed at amplifying children’s voices in conflict resolution and peacebuilding.
The UN report underscores the urgent need for coordinated international action to protect children and ensure their safety in conflict zones worldwide.
Portugal officially inaugurated its new president, Antonio Jose Seguro, on Monday, pledging to bring stability to a nation shaken by political uncertainty and natural disasters.
Seguro, the centre-left candidate, won last month’s presidential run-off against far-right rival Andre Ventura, following weeks of catastrophic storms that killed at least seven people and caused approximately €4 billion ($4.6 billion) in damage.
Speaking at his swearing-in ceremony in Lisbon’s parliament, Seguro emphasized cooperation with the minority right-wing government and vowed to end the country’s “electoral frenzy.”
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“I will do everything I can to put an end to this electoral frenzy,” he said, pointing to the inability of previous governments to complete their terms.
Amid global crises, including conflicts in the Middle East and a more isolationist US approach under President Donald Trump, Seguro stressed the importance of multilateralism.
“The force of law has been replaced by the power of the strongest,” he remarked.
Seguro succeeds Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, a conservative who leaves office at 77 after serving two five-year terms.
While the Portuguese presidency is largely ceremonial, Seguro’s leadership signals a commitment to political stability and international engagement.
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