EFCC To Arraigned Ex-Anambra Governor, Obiano, Today [VIDEO]

Former Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano

Willie Obiano, the governor of Anambra state until recently, was charged by the EFCC on charges of money laundering exceeding N4 billion.

Regarding the allegations of money laundering made against him, Obiano entered a not guilty plea.

Sylvanus Tahir, the EFCC's attorney, requested that he be placed under remand in the anti-graft agency's custody.

Hindsight

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), will arraign former governor of Anambra state, Willie Obiano on Wednesday, January 23, before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja for money laundering to the tune of NN4,008,573,350.

Judiciary reports state that the former governor will be charged with nine counts.

It was reported that the governor had transferred “N4,008, 573, 350 from the security votes into other accounts.” The source claimed that the funds were converted into dollars at different points in time and given back to Obiano in cash.

Slyvanus Tahir (SAN), the lead attorney for the EFCC, will lead eight other attorneys in the former governor's trial.

According to the commission, between March 2014 and March 2022, within the jurisdiction of this court, Obiano was the governor of Anambra State. During that time, he indirectly transferred N156,800 from the Anambra State Government Security Vote Account No. 5030050875, which was housed in a commercial bank, into another account of a different bank, No. 6060018819, belonging to C.I. Patty Ventures Nigeria Limited, an entity that had no business relationship with the state government.

EFCC said funds were dissipated for purposes unrelated/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.

The EFCC also accused the former governor of transferring N261,268,585 to Easy Diamond Integrated Link (a company that had no commercial connection to the government of Anambra State) through Nwokoye.

Read: EFCC Seals Obiano's Mansions At Ngozika Estate

According to the EFCC, “the funds were dissipated for purposes unrelated / unconnected with the security affairs of Anambra State thereby committing an unlawful act, to wit: (stealing and corruption) against 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.”

Obiano was first taken into custody on March 17, 2023, at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos, just before he was scheduled to board a flight to Houston, Texas.

Hours after he resigned as governor and thus lost his immunity from arrest and prosecution, the arrest occurred at about 8:30 p.m.

Prior to his apprehension due to accusations of corruption, he was placed on the EFCC's watchlist.

“Obiano was arrested for alleged misappropriation of public funds, including, N5 billion Sure-P and N37 billion security vote which was withdrawn in cash. Part of the funds was also allegedly diverted to finance political activities in the state,” EFCC had said then.

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