Court orders arrest of former Enugu governor Nnamani

Chimaroke Nnamani, former governor of Enugu state, has been served with a bench arrest warrant for failure to appear before the court.

Chuka Obiozor, a justice of the Lagos federal high court, issued the arrest warrant against Nnamani on Monday, which was set for his re-arraignment.

Obiozor said Nnamani’s counsel did not present concrete explanation on his client’s absence from court.

Nnamani had in 2007 faced charges of alleged economic crime, money-laundering and financial impropriety estimated at N5 billion.

He was initially prosecuted along with his aide, Sunday Anyaogu, and six firms linked to them.

In July, four companies and assets belonging to Nnamani were confiscated following a court ruling by Mohammed Yinusa, who was then a justice of the federal high court.

However, the case — which has “stalled” — has sparked controversy, with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) expressing frustration at its delay.

Kelvin Uzozie, counsel to the EFCC, told a federal high court in November that he would file an application for Nnamani’s trial to hold separately.

Nnamani’s re-arraignment was set for December 4, following a written request for adjournment by both Uzozie and Nnamani’s lawyer.