Ogona Anita
The trial of former Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, on allegations of N4 billion fraud continued on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presenting its ninth witness.
Obiano faces nine counts of embezzlement and money laundering brought against him by the EFCC. At Monday’s proceedings, the prosecution presented Andrew Ali, a senior official from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and head of its License Office, as their witness.
Ali revealed that three of the 23 companies connected to the alleged fraud were not licensed to operate as Bureau de Change (BDC) businesses. The firms—Connaught International Service, SY Panda Enterprise, and Zirga Zirga Trading Company—were not duly registered with the CBN, he stated, adding that Zirga Zirga Trading Company had been delisted from the CBN’s licensing list before 2014.
“We received two letters from the EFCC in April 2023, requesting verification of 23 financial institutions. Following a thorough review, we confirmed in a response dated May 21, 2023, that three of the companies were not registered,” Ali testified.
The court admitted the EFCC’s letter of inquiry and the CBN’s response as exhibits A1 to A8.
During cross-examination, defense counsel Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, pressed Ali on CBN regulations. Ali clarified that the CBN only supervises licensed financial institutions and regularly publishes public notices warning against unlicensed operations.
Following the testimony, Justice Inyang Ekwo adjourned the case until February 26, 2025, for the continuation of the trial.
