The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is set to arraign the immediate-past governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday, January 24. The charges against Obiano involved alleged money laundering amounting to N4,008,573,350.
The EFCC’s decision to arraign the ex-governor comes in the wake of a commitment by EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, to review all abandoned high-profile cases, particularly those involving former Governors and Ministers.
According to reliable sources, Obiano is facing nine count charges, with allegations that he moved N4,008,573,350 from security votes into different accounts. The funds, at various points, were reportedly converted into dollars and returned to Obiano in cash.
The EFCC’s lead counsel, Slyvanus Tahir, SAN, will spearhead a team of eight other lawyers in the trial of the former governor.
Some of the charges leveled against Obiano include accusations of indirectly transferring funds from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account into accounts of entities with no business relationship with the state government. These transactions, spanning specific periods, are alleged to have been dissipated for purposes unrelated to the security affairs of Anambra State.
Obiano, who was first arrested at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, on March 17, 2022, is accused of misappropriating public funds, including N5 billion Sure-P and N37 billion security vote, which was reportedly withdrawn in cash. Part of the funds is also said to have been diverted to finance political activities in the state.
The arraignment is a culmination of an investigation that has kept Obiano on the EFCC’s watchlist for some time. The former governor lost his immunity from arrest and prosecution after leaving office, leading to his arrest at the airport as he was preparing to board a flight to Houston, USA.
