Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday further adjourned till January 23, 2015 to rule on an application seeking separate trial for a former governor of Enugu State, Chimaroke Nnamani, charged with N5bn financial impropriety.

Nnamani was charged alongside his one-time aide, Sunday Anyaogu; and six companies – Rainbownet Nigeria Limited, Hillgate Nigeria Limited, Cosmo FM, Capital City Automobile Nigeria Limited, Renaissance University Teaching Hospital and Mea Mater Elizabeth High School.

But the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had asked Justice Mohammed Yunusa to separate the trial of Nnamani and Anyaogu from that of the companies.

The anti-graft commission said its request for separate trial was borne out of the need to fast-track the trial, which was being stalled by Nnamani’s frequent travels abroad for medical treatment.

The ex-governor had said that he was suffering from a disorder of the heart following a surgical operation and had taken several permissions to treat himself outside the country.

But the EFCC counsel, Mr. Kelvin Uzozie, while moving the application for separate trial, said there was need to conclude the trial on time in order to save the assets of the six companies.

According to Uzozie, being corporate entities, the assets of the companies were prone to becoming obsolete or completely eroded if the matter was not decided on time.

Noting that the case had lingered for about seven years without much progress, Uzozie urged the court to act decisively and put a stop to what he said had now become a ‘scandal.’

But Nnamani, through his counsel, Mr. Rickey Tarfa (SAN), has filed a counter-affidavit.

Tarfa argued that contrary to the EFCC’s allegations, Nnamani had always made himself available for trial after each phase of his medical treatment abroad.

He added that the trips were aimed at facilitating the recovery process of Nnamani so as to adequately defend himself.

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