EFCC takes Ex-Gov Obiano into custody ahead of arraignment over alleged ₦4bn fraud

There are compelling signs that Willie Obiano, the former governor of Anambra State, is currently being held in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission’s (EFCC) Abuja headquarters.

According to reports, the anti-graft agency’s move against Obiano is a prelude to the former governor’s arraignment before a Federal High Court in Abuja on January 24.

Obiano will go on trial for suspected corruption worth over N4 billion, which the Federal Government’s EFCC brought against him.

Slyvanus Tahir, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria SAN, has been tasked with spearheading the former governor’s prosecution on Wednesday morning in Abuja.

Dele Oyewale, the EFCC’s spokesperson, acknowledged the news but declined to provide further details.

Our correspondent received confirmation from one of the registrars of the court where Obiano is scheduled to be arraigned that he had seen the charge but was unsure of the date.

Among the accusations leveled against Obiano are: “That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the executive governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 – March 2022, sometime between 7th February, 2018 to 18th February, 2019 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly transferred through Mr Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of N156,800.00 only from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No: 5030050875 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Pic into the Fidelity Bank Ple Account No: 6060018819 belonging to C.I. Patty Ventures Nigeria Limited (an entity that had no business relationship with the Anambra State Government), which funds were dissipated for purposes unrelated / unconnected with the security affairs of Anambra State, which you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: (Stealing and Corruption) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.

“That you, Chief Willie Maduabuchi Obiano, whilst being the executive governor of Anambra State of Nigeria between March 2014 — March 2022, sometime between 9th August, 2017 to 4th March, 2020 in Abuja, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, indirectly transferred through Mr Willie Nwokoye, your then principal private secretary, the sum of N261,268,585.00 only from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No: 5030050875 domiciled in Fidelity Bank Plc into the Fidelity Bank Plc Account No: 5600062873 belonging to Easy Diamond Integrated Link (an entity that had no business relationship with the Anambra State Government), which funds were dissipated for purposes unrelated / unconnected with the security affairs of Anambra State, which you reasonably ought to have known that such funds formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: (Stealing and Corruption) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 15 (2) (b) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) in 2012 and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”

On March 17, 2022, Obiano was first taken into custody at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Lagos while getting ready to board a trip to Houston, Texas.

As of the time of this revelation, the former governor’s family and supporters had put together a group of eminent solicitors to defend him against the allegations and secure his release following his indictment.

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