Abuja, January 24, 2024: The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign the immediate-past governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, on Wednesday, January 24, before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja. The charges against Obiano involve alleged money laundering amounting to N4,008,573,350.
According to information obtained by our correspondent on Tuesday, the ex-governor will face nine counts in the trial as part of the EFCC’s renewed efforts to review abandoned high-profile cases, particularly those involving former governors and ministers. The move follows the recent commitment by EFCC Chairman Ola Olukoyede to revisit such cases.
EFCC’s lead counsel, Slyvanus Tahir, SAN, along with eight other lawyers, will spearhead the legal proceedings against the former governor.
Some of the charges brought against Obiano include accusations of indirect transfers of funds from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account into accounts unrelated to the state’s security affairs. The charges detail specific instances, such as the transfer of N156,800.00 to C.I. Patty Ventures Nigeria Limited and N261,268,585.00 to Easy Diamond Integrated Link, both entities having no business relationship with the Anambra State Government.
Obiano was initially arrested at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, on March 17, 2022, just hours after leaving office as governor and losing his immunity from arrest and prosecution. The arrest was related to allegations of misappropriation of public funds, including N5 billion from Sure-P and N37 billion from the security vote, some of which was reportedly withdrawn in cash and diverted for political activities in the state, as per EFCC statements at the time.
