The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Monday issued a warrant of arrest against a former governor of Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani.
The ex-governor was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged money laundering of N4.5billion.
He was first arraigned alongside one of his aides, Sunday Anyaogu, and six firms in 2007.
The Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday issue a bench warrant against a former governor of Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani.
Nnamani allegedly committed the offence when he was governor of the state from 1999 to 2007.
Nnamani had in 2007 faced charges of alleged economic crime and money-laundering, amounting to N5 billion. He was first arraigned alongside one of his aides, Sunday Anyaogu, and six firms in 2007.
“There is no evidence shown to the court as to why the defendants are absent, there is no justification for the the continued absence of the defendants”, said the judge.
The prosecutor, Kelvin Uzozie was also not in court, but wrote a letter to the court asking for adjournment; consequently the court adjourned till 4th of December, 2017, when the former governor would be arraigned.
Justice Obiozor ordered the arrest of the former Governor after rejecting photographs presented to the court by Nnamani’s lawyer, who claimed his client had undergone a heart surgery in the United States and so, could not come to the court for his re-arraignment.
The judge had submitted that since he was just assigned with the case, which has lasted for 10 years that it was not proper for it to seem he (the judge) was delaying the trial by allowing further delay.
“It is not a case of more haste, less speed”, the visibly angry judge began. He added that although the first and second accused had pleaded not guilty to the charge before the court, the first accused had interest in the other companies joined as accused.
He said the defendants’ absence in court was not deliberate, saying they had regularly attended their trial before Justice Mohammed Yunusa, who was handling the case earlier. His lawyer, M. Bamidele said he had tried repeatedly to reach his client since he was served a notice on November 24 to no avail.
“I was reliably informed that the defendant had a heart surgery and we wanted to get a medical report but unfortunately we could not”. “I’m not for or against anybody”. He was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
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